Essential Fatty Acids and the Diabetes Patient 

Dave Joffe, Pharmacist, FACA,

Editor in Chief

 

As medical professionals we are bombarded by claims that supplements can be of benefit to our patients, but we all worry "benefits at what cost" 

For type 2 patients we know that in most cases losing weight would be beneficial but what about the side effects and false promises of the "miracle products" that our patients often ask us about.  

Did you know that eating the right fats can actually help your patients burn fat! That’s right. In fact, one of the most important fat burning allies can be the fats “we can’t live without”. . .they’re called essential fatty acids (EFAs).  

According to researchers, most Americans eat a diet that is deficient in EFAs! Once you discover the important fat burning and health promoting power of heart-healthy EFAs you may start thinking about how have your patients consume more EFAs. 

Why can EFAs be the cornerstone of your patients weight loss and glucose control? 

 Look no further than the fat storage hormone insulin. 

For most of our patients insulin resistance contributes heavily to obesity and difficulty losing weight. We know that maintaining healthy fasting insulin levels will lead to loss of excess body fat, increased energy and decreased triglycerides and serum cholesterol. 

EFAS ARE GOOD FATS 

Without adequate intake of good fats the body’s hormonal patterns spin out of control, leading to slowed fat metabolism, increased insulin resistance, fluctuating estrogen/testosterone production, excessive inflammation, decreased memory and flagging sex drive. 

Healthy fats with the most beneficial metabolic effects promote energy, fat burning and clear the arteries! These good fats are so crucial to health, we cannot live without them, that’s why they’re called essential fatty acids. 

 Essential fatty acids are omega 3s (alpha linoleic acid [LNA], eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexanoic acid [DHA]) and omega 6 (gamma linolenic acid [GLA]) 

Leading bariatric physicians recommend EFAs (essential fatty acids) to energize metabolic fat burning and support healthy hormonal balance. It is also important to find an EFA mix that contains recommended ratios of high quality, organic omega 3s and omega 6s.   

Some of our leading nutritional experts have called these fats the number one missing nutrient in the American diet’ To make matters worse, consumption of alcohol, saturated fats, caffeine and tobacco smoke can interfere with the body’s conversion of EFAs into fats needed for thermogenic fat burning and metabolism. 

So what’s the best way to supplement the diet with good fats?  

The best sources of omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil and flaxseed oil, have been called “anti-obesity fats” because they turn on the metabolic burning of fat more quickly than other fats. During our body’s fat burning process, omega 3’s trigger cellular mechanisms that act like tiny fly-wheels “stimulating”, “energizing” and in effect, “programming” your fat cells to get into the fat burning mode. Furthermore, omega 3's nurture healthy cell permeability and membrane fluidity, which helps increase insulin sensitivity and support improved fat burning. 

Precisely because omega 3's are the most active fat burning fats, they are the very first fats to be burned!  So as your patients begin to lose weight, they will commonly suffer omega 3 depletion. Without sufficient omega 3 fatty acids, their metabolic fat burning mechanisms may become sluggish.  Furthermore, cells can begin to lose their fluidity and become more rigid, possibly causing a loss of insulin receptor function.  As a result, greater amounts of insulin may be needed to normalize blood sugar levels.  We all know that this can lead to hyperinsulinemia, weight gain and increased fat storage. 

 Put it all together and you can readily understand how omega 3 deficiency leads to frustrating weight loss plateaus and rebound weight gain, making much tougher to lose weight. 

As a result, clinical studies have led many researchers to conclude that flaxseed oil and fish oil can be useful in preventing and reversing obesity, reducing insulin resistance and improving blood glucose control. 

In addition to their important role in metabolic fat burning, omega 3’s are crucial to overall vitality and well being. 

Widespread deficiencies of the good fats in the American diet can be a contributing factor to many health and lifestyle problems. 

The good fats help in regulating hormone-like prostaglandins and cellular membrane fluidity.  Signs of EFA deficiencies include skin dryness, loose flesh on the back of the arms, loss of hair, impaired sexual performance and changes in immune function causing increased susceptibility to infections. 

We know that the body requires EFAs to regulate at least two important mechanisms: 

First, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids regulate protective eicosanoids, active hormone-like substances called prostaglandins which play a vital role in every cell and affect the healthy performance of the cardiovascular, reproductive, immune and central nervous systems. 

For example, the anti-inflammatory Class 1 prostaglandins are made from GLA. Many women’s health problems can be triggered or worsened by a single deficiency in GLA and resulting depletion of class 1 prostaglandin in addition the Class 3 anti-inflammatory prostaglandins are derived mainly from omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which come from fish oil and flaxseed oil. 

Secondly these good fats regulate cell membranes so that they achieve an optimal zone of healthy permeability allowing life giving nutrients to flow to vital organs and tissues of the body.  

Omega 3's play an important role by helping increase fluidity of cell membranes, which can become rigid as a result of excess saturated fat and carbohydrate intake. 

Healthy permeable membranes are better able to protect cell function against invading bacteria, toxins, infection and viruses.  

Healthy cell membranes are also better able to facilitate the flow of nutrients and waste materials in and out of the cells. 

Consequently, increasing intake of high potency, balanced essential fatty acids can provide important nutritional support to those who are concerned with the following conditions: 

Elevated cholesterol levels

Diabetes

Heart disease

Prevention of strokes

High blood pressure

Cancer prevention and treatment

Multiple sclerosis

Psoriasis and eczema

Rheumatoid arthritis 

You may want to consider adding EFA's to your patient’s nutritional armament. 

References:

Chicco, A, Ann NutrMetab 1996;40(2): 116-22 Crayhon, Robert, MS 103

Nettleton, J.A. Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Health, 1993 34-35

Crayhon, Robert, 101 Storlien L et al. Diabetes Resist Clinic Practice 1988; 5(suppl I): S267

Rossner, S. et al., “Fatty acid composition in serum lipids and adipose tissue in severe obesity before and after 6 

weeks of weight loss.” International Journal of Obesity 1999;13 (5): 603-12

Cunnane, S.C., et al “N-3 Essential fatty acids decrease weight gain in genetically obese mice.” British Journal of Nutrition 1986; 56: 87-95

Storlien, L.H., “Not all dietary fats may lead to obesity” Amer Jour Clin Nutr 1990;51:1114

Hainault, I. et al., “Fish oil in a high lard diet prevents obesity, hyperlipidemia and adipocyte insulin resistance in rats”  Annuals of New York Accademy of Sciences 1993; 683:90-101

Firshein, Richard, D.O. The Neutraceutical Revolution, 1999; 39-40

Burr, G.O. et al. A New Deficiency Disease Produced by the Rigid Exclusion of Fat From the Diet” The Journal of Biology and Chemistry,1999;82a:345-367 

 

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