Recently I have read that the omega 3 pathway requires the same
enzyme that cox 2 inhibitors inhibit. Here is a description of that
pathway.
"It turns out that both the omega-3 and omega-6 pathway utilize the
same enzymes, and both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids have to
compete for these enzymes in order to produce their final product.
Studies have reported that the enzymes used in these pathways were
found to prefer the omega-3 pathway. It turns out then that in diets
high in omega-3 fatty acids, most of the enzymes will be "busy"
converting the omega-3 acids.
The omega-6 fatty acids, Dihommogamma-Linoleic Acid (DGLA) in
particular, can be converted to either the anti-inflammatory PG1 or
into arachidonic acid (AA), a precursor of PG2. Conversion of DGLA
into PG1 does not require any enzymes, but conversion of DGLA into AA
requires the enzyme delta-5 desaturase. In diets high in omega-3,
most of the delta-5 desaturase will be used in the omega-3 pathway;
few delta-5 desaturase will be available to convert DGLA into
arachidonic acid, and subsequently, PG2. DGLA ends up being converted
into the anti-inflammatory PG1 and inflammation is therefore
decreased.
In a diet low in omega-3 fatty acids, large quantities of delta-5
desaturase enzymes are available to convert DGLA into AA. The
available AA is then converted into the inflammatory PG2. Thus, the
more omega-3 fatty acids present in our body, the fewer enzymes are
available for converting omega-6 fatty acids into the inflammatory
prostaglandins."
So if I am deciphering this correctly, omega 3 pathway is naturally
an inhibitor of arachidonic acid and if we inhibit the enzyme that
inhibits 5 lo/cox 2, we also inhibit the conversion of omega 3s. It
looks like we would need to do one or the other. Since the Budwig
diet already "forbids" beef, lamb and pork (the major contributors of
non-converted by the body) arachidonic acid, and the body also
prefers omega 3 pathway over the omega 6, then it would seem that the
Budwig Diet is all that is needed and one more reason the diet works.
It also seems that the only supplement she (Budwig) wanted is yeast
flakes which provides B vitamins.
More research needs to be done to determine if curcumin inhibits
arachidonic acid conversion to 5 hete without the inhibition of omega
3 pathway. If so I would like to know so that I may add it back into
my supplement plan. I do not think it wise to take anything that
will inhibit the omega 3 pathway and therefore inhibit the Budwig
diet.
Paul
