Comments on: Swine Flu Fish Oil Warning

By: JP

JP — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:36:36 +0000

Dott,

That would be interesting. My hunch is that the effects of excessive omega-3 intake *could* be problematic re: many infections because of its apparent effect on immune function. I believe this is a topic I should try to update.

Thank you for the comment and for reminding me of this issue.

Be well!

By: dott

dott — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:36:01 +0000

Be interesting to find out if this fish consumption connection was true of all flu-like infections, or just the swine flu. Could make the mapping of historical influenza pandemics very interesting for some enterprising epidemic grant reseachers…
(Hint hint.)

By: JP

JP — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:41:04 +0000

Thank you for your pointing that out, Scott. I’d like to look into that further. Perhaps I can do a follow up column in the future. If you know of any particular studies that you think I should look at, please let me know.

Also, can you please comment on the apparent retroconversion of DHA to EPA found in this study?

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/126/12/3032

Be well!

By: Dr Scott Doughman

Dr Scott Doughman — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:26:16 +0000

But did you know that DHA algae oil does not have the same issues, because it is metabolized in a way that is safe and gentle without the EPA anti-immune effects while in the plasma.

By: Anja

Anja — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:17:35 +0000

Swine flue works in different way. Swines get throw nose

By: JP

JP — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:19:09 +0000

Thank you for sharing your point of view, Dave. It’s much appreciated!

Be well!

By: dave woynarowski md

dave woynarowski md — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:10:59 +0000

Its fun to theorize and it makes us look smart but extrapolating controlled laboratory rodent studies to humans is fraught with a long history of false conclusions.
Given the benefits of fish oil in many studies in immunocompromised humans including diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer, chemo and radiation Rx, and post surgical patients none of which demonstrated increases in infections and showed significant improvements in outcomes and given the fact that the bulk of our population has a skewed Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio of 20 to 1 I would not waste a whole lot of time worrying about this theory.

Viz plant based Omega3′s (flax chia etc) you are correct. The very reason they are not anti-inflammtory and don’t do much to further human health is because they are 18 carbon and not 22 carbons that humans need.

By: JP

JP — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:26:23 +0000

David,

Thanks for making that inquiry. It’s great that Dr. Sears replied. I hope his assessment is correct.

Be well!

By: David

David — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:35:14 +0000

Hello. I have sent your article and Dr Art Ayers article (http://tinyurl.com/FishOil-Flu) to Dr Barry Sears (www.drsears.com) team, and Dr Sears personally has answered in a mail: “Relative to the swine flu, you have to use dramatic levels of fish oil (probably 10-15 grams of EPA and DHA per day) in humans to lower the AA/EPA to less 1 in which immune function might be compromised.”

By: JP

JP — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:09:53 +0000

I’m happy to know it was of interest. Thanks, Marlene!

Be well!