Omega 3 And Omega 6
In the early 1960s it was found that omega 6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, was converted to produce prostaglandins in the body. These substances cause inflammation in the tissues of the body, which is found to be linked with many - if not most - disease. During the 1970s, other inflammatory substances were discovered which could come from omega 6 including thromboxanes, prostacyclins and the leukotrienes. Collectively, these substances are know as eicosanoids.
The eicosanoids have important biological functions. They do not generally live long, but if large amounts are produced, then there is a net excess in the body which is what causes the damage.
Omega 3 also creates these potentially damaging eicosanoids, but they are made much more slowly, and so are less damaging. As the omega 6 and omega 3 fats compete to be broken down into eicosanoids, having extra omega 3 in the diet, and less omega 6, means that the omega 3 'wins' in being converted. This has a net benefit in terms of body inflammation.
Eicosanoids
There are four families of eicosanoids — the PROSTANOIDS - prostaglandins, prostacyclins and the thromboxanes; and the LEUKOTRIENES.
Here is a closer look at the Leukotrienes.
Leukotrienes
Leukotrienes are made from arachidonic acid by an enzyme called 5-lipoxygenase. Also closely associated with leukotriene production is the creation
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