Cardiovascular Disorders

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is a term used frequently by the general population to describe a broad range of cardiovascular disorders including hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disorders like varicose veins. Many people with cardiovascular disease experience elevated blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, and exhibit excessive platelet aggregation (blood clotting).

Certain populations including Eskimos eating a traditional diet have an extremely low risk of developing cardiovascular disease. They are also unique in having elevated levels of certain beneficial fatty acids in their blood, including dihommogammalinolenic acid (DGLA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Other studies have shown that low levels of DGLA in the blood or adipose tissue are a strong predictor of both coronary heart disease and stroke. These two important facts indicate that certain fatty acids play a role in cardiovascular health.

Additional evidence exists to demonstrate that these and other fatty acids significantly impact on cardiovascular disorders. For example, EPA and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been found to stop the replication of cells in the lining of blood vessels. This could be an important factor in regulating hardening of the arteries. Other beneficial fatty acids like linoleic acid (LA) and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in evening primrose oil (EPO), lower cholesterol levels, while those found in fish oil (FO) like EPA and DHA, lower triglyceride levels. In addition, some fatty acids reduce blood pressure and inhibit platelet aggregation. Also, some studies have shown that certain fatty acids prevent fatal heart arrhythmias (irregular heart beats) in animal models. All of these effects are of significant benefit to the cardiovascular system.

Researchers have found that people with CVD have abnormal levels of various fatty acids in their bodies. These abnormalities have led researchers to investigate the possibility of using fatty acid supplements like EPO and FO to normalize the fatty acid levels and alter the progression of the disease.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Over 2 million North Americans suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a condition that is also called Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Yuppie Flu. The disease is more prevalent is women and generally strikes between the age of 38 to 43. It manifests as unexplained, persistent, extreme muscle fatigue, and overall exhaustion that is not due to physical exertion and is not alleviated by rest. It also may include muscle and joint pain, sore throat and lymph nodes, and headaches uncharacteristic of those experienced previously by the individual. In addition, the condition may follow a viral infection or be accompanied by persistent viral infections.

The cause of the disease is unknown and treatment of the disorder has been perplexing for the medical profession. No single treatment has been effective for all patients and they seem to respond best if managed in a way most appropriate to each individual patient. Treatments have included rest, gentle exercise, chemical avoidance, antidepressants, anti-fungal treatments, acupuncture, relaxation and meditation and dietary intervention including supplementation with vitamins B, C, zinc and magnesium, and a unique combination of fatty acids derived from Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and Fish Oil (FO).

The rationale for using fatty acid supplementation in treating this disorder stems from an array of associated ideas. Vitamins B6 and C, and magnesium and zinc, are necessary nutrients that enable the body to convert dietary essential fatty acids into other important body components. The fact that supplementing CFS patients with these vitamins and minerals produces an improvement in their condition, suggests that fatty acid metabolism must somehow be involved in the disease state. Also, the myalgia and muscle fatigue experienced by patients with CFS is similar to that experienced by people suffering from carnitine deficiency. Carnitine is a substance that is involved in the normal transfer of fatty acids into cells.

Viral infections are believed to play a role in CFS. People with viral infections frequently develop atopic dermatitis. People that have other atopic conditions like eczema, migraine headaches and allergies, also have a defect in fatty acid metabolism so that measured levels of these important body components are not normal. In addition, researchers have found that people with CFS have abnormal levels of various fatty acids in their bodies. These abnormalities have led researchers to investigate the possibility of using fatty acid supplementation to normalize the fatty acid levels and alleviate some of the symptoms of this condition.

Diabetes

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long term diabetes. It is one of the most common complications of diabetes and is present in both diabetics that must take insulin and in those who can manage their diabetes through diet. The symptoms include loss of touch sensation, including cold and hot, muscle weakness, blood pressure problems, bladder problems, stomach and intestinal upset and impotence. It is also the major contributing factor leading to injury, skin ulceration and eventual amputation that is so common in diabetics.

Fatty acids are natural components of our nerves and can impact on how those nerves function in three main ways.

• First, the protective sheath called myelin, that surrounds all of our nerves is made of about 78 % fat and this fat is made of fatty acids. So fatty acids are required for normal structure and function of all of our nerves.
• Secondly, metabolites of these fatty acids, like Prostaglandin E1 are required for normal function. They help to open up blood vessels and improve circulation around the nerves.
• And thirdly, certain fatty acids like polyunsaturated fatty acids, are important to ensure proper circulation of blood around the nerves. When the levels of these fatty acids are reduced in the body, cell membranes become stiff. Red blood cells with stiff membranes then have difficulty making their way through the tiny passages of the blood vessels surrounding the nerves. This interferes with the supply of oxygen and other nutrients to the nerves. The existence of stiff red blood cells and also viscous or thick blood has been measured in diabetics.

A scientist named Benner and his colleagues first discovered that fatty acid metabolism is severely altered in diabetics way back in 1966. Since then, it has been confirmed that a number of enzymes in the metabolic pathway are impaired including Delta-6-desaturase, also the one that converts Dihommogammalinolenic acid (DGLA) to arachidonic acid (AA) and the one that converts DGLA to Prostaglandin E1. Consequently, diabetics require higher dietary levels of fatty acids derived from the essential fatty acids.

Investigators in France were the first to suggest that GLA might alter some of the heart and circulation problems experienced by diabetics. In addition, researchers in the UK reported that diabetic neuropathy might also respond to GLA supplementation.

Eczema

Atopy is a general term that indicates an increased risk of developing one of a group of disorders including eczema, asthma, migraine headaches and allergies. It is a genetically inherited condition that makes a person more susceptible to developing these conditions. But these conditions only seem to occur if there is also an external mediator influencing the condition. Some of these mediators may include food that is being consumed by the person.

Atopic eczema is a condition that usually becomes apparent in infancy and frequently remains throughout life. The degree of severity of the condition may vary from time to time, but the symptoms are always the same. They include red, inflamed, skin that cracks and bleeds. These lesions usually occur on the face, fingers, toes, elbows and knees but can occur throughout the body in extreme conditions. The areas of skin affected often feel rough and dry and they are extremely itchy. The itchiness is one of the worst symptoms of the disease from the patient's point of view.

Historical records show that there were many studies completed between 1877 and 1954 using various types of oils to treat eczema. None of these oils contained gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and the results of these studies conflicted with one another. Then in the late 1950s, a family of drugs called anabolic steroids was developed and they proved to be extremely effective in the treatment of eczema. Consequently, the fatty acid treatment was forgotten until the late 1970s when the prostaglandins and their functions were discovered. It was at that point, that a young researcher named Dr. David Horrobin recognized the potential to treat eczema with GLA containing oils. Of course by that time, it had become apparent that steroids could produce some harmful side effects following long term use, so an alternative line of therapy was a welcome change.

The mechanism by which fatty acids can alter the condition of someone's skin probably involves three of the main functions of fatty acids in the body.

• First of all, they create an effective barrier in the skin to prevent loss of water. So increasing the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the skin could reduce water loss and improve skin condition.
• Secondly, polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation with fatty acids like GLA may increase the level of Prostaglandin E1 and ultimately reduce inflammation in the skin. (Prostaglandin E1 is a potent anti-inflammatory substance that is produced in the body when the appropriate fatty acid building blocks are available.)
• And thirdly, polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes may alter the way that certain signals from other cells are interpreted. So they may alter the way that certain cells in the skin perform particular functions.

People with atopic eczema have a defect in their fatty acid metabolism so they can not effectively convert dietary essential fatty acids into more bioactive components including Prostaglandin E1. Dietary supplementation with GLA can by-pass the defect in metabolism, allowing the formation of Prostaglandin E1. The anti-inflammatory action of Prostaglandin E1 can reduce the red itchy patches of skin as seen in eczema patients. In addition, polyunsaturated fatty acids help to create an effective barrier in the skin to reduce water loss and improve overall skin condition and function. Studies have confirmed an improvement in skin smoothness in normal individuals as well as those with skin disorders.

Fetal Nutrition
Healthy Pregnancy

There has been a substantial amount of research interest in recent years in the need to supply adequate amounts of Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LC-PUFAs) for the fetus, and premature and full term infants to enable good visual and intellectual development. It is also becoming increasingly obvious that there is a need for these nutrients in the mother before, during and after pregnancy.

It is very important that a woman's body is well nourished before she conceives. Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LC-PUFAs) are an important part of this nutritional preparation. A nutritionally complete diet that includes LC-PUFAs such as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Arachidonic acid (AA) and Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) that is a building block for AA, can have significant consequences for the developing baby and expectant mother.

In the early stages of pregnancy these fatty acids are needed for growth of the placenta. As the pregnancy progresses, further demands are made on the mother's fatty acid supply as the placenta and the fetus grows. During the last 3 months of pregnancy, there is a rapid accumulation of DHA and AA in the eyes and brain cells of the fetus and the brain increases 4 to 5 times in weight.

During the first few months of life, the baby's nervous system continues to grow very rapidly and DHA and AA play a very important role in this development. Breast milk provides the DHA and AA the baby needs at that time. However, some studies show that LC-PUFA content of breast milk can vary widely from mother to mother. Therefore, it is important that the mother ensures an adequate intake of LC-PUFAs at this time.

Adequate intake of LC-PUFAs is also important for the mother's wellbeing. Pregnancy and breast feeding places a huge demand on the mother's fatty acid supplies and research has shown that she can become deficient. This deficiency has been demonstrated in scientific studies, in particular in women who have gone through successive pregnancies that are less than 2 to 3 years apart, and in women who have had multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.). Even more alarming is the research showing that Canadian women eat less than two thirds the recommended daily intake of DHA during pregnancy and that vegetarian mothers consume even less than that. Some researchers have also speculated that post natal depression could be due to a deficiency in DHA.

Mastalgia (Breast Pain)

During the early teenage years, breast growth progresses in stages, stimulated by hormone activity. The hormones involved are the same ones that bring about periods and fertility, the visible evidence of a transition from childhood to womanhood.

In most young women, breasts reach their developed state during their teenage years. This development is normally uncomplicated and only a few women experience breast problems before their first pregnancy.

Many women having periods are aware of the changes in their breasts at different times in the monthly cycle. These cyclical changes mean that in some women their breasts enlarge in the 10-14 days prior to a period and return to their original size after the period begins. These variations occur in a large number of women and appear to be quite normal. Breast changes are only considered to be problematic when they are extreme, or when they interfere with day to day activities.

Of all breast conditions, pain is the one that women seek help and advice for most often. Frequently this pain is not confined just to the breast: it may be felt at the top inner part of the arm.

It appears that about half of all women attending special breast clinics and three quarters of women attending screening clinics have breast pain. This pain falls into two patterns: either cyclical ie. having a definite relationship with the menstrual cycle and occurring premenstrually; or non-cyclical (occurring at any time). Premenstrual pain is much more common than non-cyclical pain. In general, premenstrual pain tends to affect women in their late twenties and thirties whereas non-cyclical pain is more common in women aged 40 and over.

Until recently the cause of breast pain was something of a mystery. Although a direct relationship might have been expected between the pain and hormone levels, in fact most women with breast pain have normal levels of circulating hormones. It is now accepted that the problem is not one of high hormone levels but of abnormal sensitivity of breast tissue to normal hormone levels. This increase in sensitivity is linked with the pattern of fatty acids in the blood stream. Fatty acids are substances present in all fats and oils that can affect the way the body responds to its own hormones. Women with breast pain have low levels of various fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). These fatty acids are made in the body starting with essential fatty acids that we obtain in our diet. Women with breast pain also have high levels of saturated fatty acids that increase and prolong the effect of hormones on the breast tissue and appear to cause pain.

Low levels of GLA and other fatty acids made from the essential fatty acids are not caused by dietary deficiencies. They are caused by an inefficient conversion process in the body. Dietary supplementation with GLA can overcome this inefficient conversion, raising levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and simultaneously reducing levels of saturated fatty acids.

Menopause

The word "Menopause" comes from the Greek word mens, which means monthly, and pausis, which means cessation; so it means the end of menstruation. Menopause is a natural part of every woman's aging process. It occurs when she is no longer able to become pregnant because her ovaries produce lower levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This change leading up to menopause is very gradual and happens over several years. Some people refer to this transition period as "perimenopause". The average woman reaches menopause at age 52, but it can occur anytime between the ages of 42 and 56. Menopause can also be induced by certain surgical procedures and some types of cancer treatments. A woman has official begun her menopause when she has not had a period for a full year.

Although menopause associated with aging is a natural process, some women may experience unpleasant menopausal symptoms that can be moderate to severely debilitating. The first signs of perimenopause are irregular periods (when periods come closer together or further apart), and when blood flow becomes lighter or heavier. Other signs may include weight gain, hot flushes, insomnia, night sweats, vaginal dryness, joint pain, fatigue, short-term memory problems, bowel upset, dry eyes, itchy skin, mood swings, and urinary tract infections. Usually these symptoms will lessen or go away after a woman has entered menopause. However, that's not the end of the story.

Once a woman has reached her menopause, her risk for developing cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and cancer increases dramatically. It's believed that hormones produced during the early stages of a woman's life provide some protection from these conditions. That's why hormone replacement therapy was once believed to be beneficial to women in the long run. There is now evidence to show that hormone replacement therapy has its own risks and so many women are choosing not to use hormone replacement therapy for treatment of perimenopausal symptoms or for long term protective effects.

There area number of options available to relieve certain perimenopausal symtoms. One of those is the herbs called Black Cohosh. It has been clinically proven to reduce disturbing menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, profuse sweating, sleep disturbances and depressive moods. These improvements occur as early as four weeks following start of treatment in 80% of women. In addition, Black Cohosh is a safe and effective alternative to hormone replacement therapy and can be used by women who are not able to take this treatment because of other health conditions (like high blood pressure).

Of all the alternative remedies for relief of menopausal symptoms, Soy Isoflavones are the most strongly supported by controlled scientific studies. Soy Isoflavones not only ease menopausal symptoms, they also may provide protection from osteoporosis, heart disease and certain hormone dependent cancers such as breast cancer. Isoflavones are phytoestrogens - substances found in plants that provide a response similar to the hormone estrogen when eaten. In fact, they seem to enhance hormone action when natural levels are low and reduce their effects when the levels are too high. So they help balance and stabilize fluctuating hormone levels and resulting body responses.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids can diminish nighttime hot flashes and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. These "good fats" are found in vegetable oils like evening primrose oil and oily salt-water fish like salmon, herring, mackerel and tuna. Research has shown that a special combination of two particular polyunsaturated fatty acids called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can increase calcium absorption from food, reduce calcium excretion from the body and increase the up-take of calcium into bones. All of these actions help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. These same fatty acids can also lower blood pressure, open up blood vessels so that blood flows more readily, prevent blood from clotting and reduce triglyceride and cholesterol levels. The heart and circulation get the benefit from all of these actions.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a slowly progressive disease of the central nervous system, where scattered patches of myelin in the brain and spinal cord are destroyed. It results in numerous and varied neurological symptoms and usually has periods of remission and exacerbation.

The cause of MS is unknown, but it is thought to be associated with a malfunction of the immune system. It has also been associated with a latent virus (possibly a human herpes virus or retrovirus). Also some people seem to be genetically prone to the condition. However, environment does seem to play a role in the condition as well since MS is more common in temperate climates. The incidence of the disease is 1 in 2,000 people in temperate regions, while its occurrence in the tropics is only 1 in 10,000 people. Research has also linked the geographic area in which the patient lived for the first fifteen years of their life. Relocation after age 15 does not seem to alter the risk associated with developing the condition. The typical age of onset is 20 to 40 years and women are affected somewhat more often than men.

MS has a seemingly diverse array of symptoms that do not appear to be associated through commonality on the surface. However, in depth study of the condition indicates that fatty acid metabolism may be involved. The four distinct clues are as follows:

• Myelin is the insulating layer that surrounds each nerve fiber. It is composed of about 78 % lipid (the scientific name for fat) and it is believed that the kinds of fatty acids that make up this lipid will dictate the progression of the disease.
• Degeneration of the myelin only occurs in the presence of macrophages. These are the body's own immune cells and for some unknown reason, they gobble up the myelin and destroy the protective sheath around the nerves. Some scientists have postulated that abnormal levels of prostaglandins, the end products of fatty acid metabolism, trigger this response through their effects on the immune system.
• Platelet aggregation is also believed to contribute to MS. Platelets are very small particles in the bloodstream that play a role in blood clotting. In MS patients, there is an abnormal, excessive clumping together of the platelets. This platelet function may be regulated by prostaglandins derived from fatty acids.
• Researchers have found that people with MS have abnormal levels of various fatty acids in their bodies.

The body levels of saturated fat are elevated in people with MS and the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids are lower than in people who do not suffer from the condition. Dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids may aid in normalizing this balance of body components.

Nail Health

Nail growth begins in the little half moon that is visible at the base of the nail. This region is basically the "manufacturing plant" for the nail. Nails grow from here at a rate of 1 to 2 millimeters a week. Both the half moon and the nail bed on which the visible part of the nail sits need to have a regular blood flow for nail growth and health.

A well balanced diet that provides plenty of calcium is important. In addition, essential fatty acids may also play a crucial role. Women enrolled in a clinical trial where they were consuming a mixture of evening primrose oil, fish oil and calcium reported improvements in split, broken and brittle nails within just one month of starting supplementation. This improvement could perhaps be explained by the essential fatty acids helping to improve blood flow and ultimately nutrient delivery to the extremities.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is quite literally, a thinning of the bones. Bone consists of a framework or matrix of interlocking fibers called collagen. The relatively flexible collagen is made rigid by calcium that is deposited on the matrix in the form of tiny crystals. The combination of collagen framework and the calcium crystals give bone its strength and durability. Bone undergoes a constant renewal, with calcium being taken out and laid down again on a daily basis. In fact, at least 20 % of your bone calcium is completely replaced every year.

Osteoporosis develops following loss of calcium from the bone and loss of the bone matrix as well. The bone then becomes brittle and porous and this increases the likelihood of the bone breaking during a fall or when pressure is applied. This condition is extremely dangerous, because even a minor fall can cause a hip fracture and nearly 20 % of patients with hip fractures die within six months of getting the injury.

Osteoporosis is more common in women than men. It is estimated that it affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 8 men. However, the proportion of men suffering from this condition is increasing. Interestingly, this condition is largely preventable and can be treated successfully in the early stages if it is caught in time.

The main cause of osteoporosis is insufficient calcium deposited on the bone matrix. This can result from inadequate dietary intake of calcium, insufficient absorption of the dietary calcium through the digestive system and excessive excretion of calcium in the urine.

Most people only absorb around 40 - 60 % of the calcium they eat and how this calcium gets used in the body is also dependent on the intake of other nutrients like Vitamin D for example. Research has also confirmed that fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and eicospentaenoic acid (EPA) enhance the absorption of calcium from the digestive system, reduce calcium excretion and increase the up-take of calcium in the bones. So if a person is not getting enough of these vital nutrients in their diet, then they may be increasing the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.

Loss of calcium from the bones becomes increasingly apparent as a person ages and smoking has also been shown to accelerate this process. Also, some drugs have been shown to cause osteoporosis. These include steroids that are commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. This side effect makes the situation even worse for those individuals because they are already prone to developing osteoporosis next to the joints that are inflamed.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome includes a range of symptoms such as irritability, depression, water retention, fatigue, breast pain and food cravings that commence 7 to10 days prior to menstruation. Eighty to ninety percent of women between 18 and 50 years of age experience at least one symptom regularly. Thirty to forty percent of women experience symptoms so severely that they are considered incapacitating.

There appears to be a link between fatty acid metabolism and the occurrence of PMS. The condition arises more frequently in women with atopic disorders like eczema, migraine headaches and allergies. These people also have a defect in fatty acid metabolism. In addition, PMS is observed most frequently in populations that consume high fat diets that generally contain large amounts of saturated fat. The manifestation of the disease could be the result of this high fat consumption or it could be caused by the high intake of saturated fat relative to the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet.

There are three main ways that fatty acids in the diet may affect the onset of PMS.

• First, hormones like estrogen are produced in the body to deliver messages to various components of the body. When these hormones reach their destination, they may become attached to fatty acids. The ones that are attached to saturated fatty acids might be more potent than those attached to polyunsaturated fatty acids. Therefore, if the ratio of saturated to polyunsaturated fatty acids is high, then the tissue response to normal circulating hormone levels may be excessive.
• Secondly, there are proteins embedded in cell membranes that are responsible for receiving incoming messages from hormones. These proteins called receptors, are surrounded by fatty acids that are also part of the membrane. If most of the fatty acids are saturated then the receptor may have a stronger attraction for the hormone. In this situation, a normal level of circulating hormone may produce an exaggerated response.
• And finally, the effects of the hormone called prolactin are reduced by Prostaglandin E1. Therefore, if levels of Prostaglandin E1 are lower than normal, then the effects of prolactin may be increased. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the breast tissue to undergo a physiological change and produce milk.

Many women with PMS have higher than normal levels of saturated fatty acids and lower than normal levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their bodies. This imbalance produces an exaggerated response to normal levels of circulating hormones and results in the symptoms of PMS. When the balance is corrected by supplying polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet, the response to the hormones is normalized and the symptoms may disappear.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a degenerative, inflammatory disease characterized by typically symmetric inflammation of the peripheral joints resulting in progressive erosion of cartilage and underlying bone, leading to irreversible joint damage. The intensity of the disease can vary among individuals.

Causes of the disease have been attributed to genetic, environmental and immunological factors. The subject is still under debate, but many scientists agree that the balance of certain regulatory molecules called prostaglandins, specifically PGE1 and PGE2, seem to be involved. PGE1 causes a reduction in inflammation, while PGE2 exacerbates the condition.

Prostaglandins are made from fatty acids obtained in the diet. The quantity and types of prostaglandins produced are dependent on the kinds of fatty acids consumed and on the ability of the body machinery to transform these building blocks into the vital controlling compounds. Therefore, it is logical to assume that if the right balance of fatty acids is not being obtained from the diet or produced by the body, then measured levels of fatty acids and prostaglandins in the body would be abnormal. In fact, researchers have found that people with RA have abnormal levels of fatty acids. As well, abnormalities occur in related conditions like Sjogren's Syndrome.

The classic treatment for RA is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce joint swelling and ultimately the pain in people afflicted with this debilitating condition. NSAIDs provide symptomatic relief but do not alter long-term progression of the disease. In addition, NSAIDs can trigger a number of adverse reactions that may include gastric bleeding, headaches, confusion, high blood pressure, fluid retention, and an excessive reduction in platelet aggregation. These side effects are caused by the broadly directed inhibition of prostaglandins by these drugs. Simply put, they stop the activity of beneficial as well as inflammatory prostaglandins. This means substances like PGE1 that provide protection to the lining of the stomach and prevent ulcer formation, do not get produced. Providing a treatment that selectively inhibits the inflammatory prostaglandins while allowing the formation of the beneficial prostaglandins would be advantageous to the patient. Theoretically, such treatment should be possible using appropriate fatty acid supplements including Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and Fish Oil (FO), that provide the right mix of fatty acids to produce optimum levels of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.

Skin Smoothness

Skin is our largest organ, and is very much a living, highly metabolic part of our body that is in need of constant nourishment from within. Just a 6 cm square of any piece of skin is home to 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, 78 heat and 13 cold receptors, 1300 nerve endings, 165 touch receptors, 65 hairs and muscles and a staggering 19,500,000 cells. Designed to control water loss, protect from UV light, make Vitamin D, help control body temperature as well as housing the living roots of our hair and produce nails, the function of the skin in many and varied. Not surprisingly therefore, it demands many nutrients and is one of the first places the signs of a lack of crucial nutrients can be physically noticed.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are crucial components of every cell wall in the skin and indeed in our entire body. Having sufficient polyunsaturated fatty acids make the cell wall fluid, supple and water-tight. A lack of these fats in the diet quickly leads to dry skin (as the cell walls become less efficient at retaining moisture) and poor wound healing. These are problems you may live with not realizing how easily they could be rectified by taking more care with your diet.

A clinical study in patients with atopic eczema showed that evening primrose oil could improve skin smoothness in diseased as well as unaffected areas of skin.

Stress Fractures

Certain athletes are prone to stress fractures that can destroy their careers and alter their lives forever. Paula Radcliffe, who was Britain's fastest rising female athlete in 1997, developed a stress fracture in the bone of her foot in 1994. She was told she could never run competitively again. But through advice from experts in sports medicine, she was introduced to the value of dietary supplements. She started taking a supplement containing a unique mixture of EPO, Fish Oil and calcium and went on to finish 2nd in the World Cross Country Championships in 1997.

Young athletes like Paula now take injuries such as stress fractures very seriously. Athletic osteoporosis is frequently found in young women whose fat-free low-protein diets are relatively lacking in calcium, vital for the healthy development and maintenance of youthful bones. However, such are the stresses of high intensity long distance running that even normal calcium intake and normal bones may not be good enough to prevent stress fractures.

Doctors, sports coaches and physiotherapists are becoming increasingly aware of high bone stresses in athletes that may be exacerbated by early diet-induced osteoporosis. Many are beginning to take steps to reduce the risks of osteoporosis and of stress fractures even of normal bones, particularly in young athletes (and women too who are perhaps anorexic or who maintain a fat-free diet). Calcium is found in the fatty dairy products, such as cheese and milk, they take care to exclude from their daily diets.

Stress fractures remain a constant threat to sportmen and women everywhere - and indeed to non-athletes. In non-athletes they are recognized as a sign that there may be a serious lack of calcium in the diet. Low levels of this vital mineral can lead in time to a disease known as osteoporosis, a condition where bones become porous and weak. The progressive deterioration leads to an increased risk of fracture, crumbling and problems of mobility in later life.

The main cause of osteoporosis is insufficient calcium deposited on the bone matrix. This can result from inadequate dietary intake of calcium, insufficient absorption of the dietary calcium through the digestive system and excessive excretion of calcium in the urine.

Most people only absorb around 40 -60 % of the calcium they eat and how this calcium gets used in the body is also dependent on the intake of other nutrients like Vitamin D for example. Research has also confirmed that fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and eicospentaenoic acid (EPA) enhance the absorption of calcium from the digestive system, reduce calcium excretion and increase the up-take of calcium in the bones. So if a person is not getting enough of these vital nutrients in their diet, then they may be increasing the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.