Posted by bluedog on December 5, 2002, at 11:28:07
In reply to Re: for Larry - tumeric and anti-inflammatory effects, posted by Larry Hoover on December 5, 2002, at 9:24:16
> > I'm not sure if it was placebo or not but I've noticed definite reduction in my pain levels since re-commencing my turmeric trial. But then again it may be because, as Larry so succinctly put it, I was taking enough turmeric to COMPLETELY inhibit the cox-2 processes in my body. {I was taking 3 large heaped teaspoons per day :)}. By the way I am going to also give bromelain another trial as Larry suggested. Hopefully my "three pronged" anti-inflammatory cocktail of fish oil, turmeric and bromelain will do wonders for my knees and all the other little aches and pains that seem to be creeping up on me as I get older.
>
> A fourth prong would be adding GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). In the presence of fish oil, GLA is pushed down a pathway that leads to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. One gram a day of borage oil, black currant oil, or evening primrose oil. Borage has something like 23% GLA, evening primrose about half that.I consume plenty of linseeds (called flaxseeds in the US) pumpkin seeds and walnuts. I know these are good plant sources of omega-3's in the form of LNA which can be converted to EPA by the body. Do these plant food sources also contain GLA?
I also read somewhere that you need the "correct " ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 EFA's in your body for the body to produce the right balance of anti-inflammatory prostoglandin hormones as opposed to prostoglandins that promote inflammation. These prostoglandin hormones obviously have many and varied essential functions in our bodies including boosting the bodies immune function. You seem to be saying that GLA will actually tip the balance of prostoglandin synthesis towards the anti-inflammatory type? My very simple understanding of these matters is that omega-3 EFA's promote anti-inflammatory prostoglandins and omega-6 EFA's promote inflammatory and blood clotting prostoglandins.(I realise that this is a VERY simplistic view but it is one that I find helpful)
I see that this GLA factor complicates matters somewhat but I don't really understand how?. I know that in Western Society that our omega-3 to omega-6 balance is heavily (and unhealthfully) tilted in favour of omega-6. How difficult (or easy) would it be to tilt the balance the other way and to get too much omega-3 in the system?
Can too much turmeric, fish oil, GLA and bromelain actually inhibit the production of the omega-6 related prostoglandins thereby creating a whole new set of health problems? For instance you commented that I was probably taking too much turmeric in a previous post!
Finally how do I put all these elements together in my diet and supplement plan? To put it another way what is the relationship and the correct balance between cox-1, cox-2, the inhibition of cox-1 and cox-2, Omega-3 EFA's, Omega-6 EFA's and GLA?
It seems to get pretty complicated pretty quickly!!!!
thanks
bluedog
poster:bluedog
thread:130605
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/130644.html