Posted by Larry Hoover on March 26, 2007, at 12:37:24
In reply to Omega-3 dosing schedule, posted by Klavot on March 26, 2007, at 8:46:07
> Greetings all
>
> Is it better to take omega-3 in divided doses after each meal, or should one take your entire daily dose in one go?
>
> KlavotIf you'll permit one more post about orthomolecular medicine......I'm feeling mischievous. ;-)
To employ fish oil in this way is a direct expression of the orthomolecular philosophy. What distorts the public perception of employing fish oil are the learned doctors' reactions thereto. For example, warnings are issued about reductions in blood clotting. A full examination of the issue reveals just how inappropriate those warnings are. Intake of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids does *change* clotting parameters, but only in those subjects previously deficient therein. Moreover, there is a ceiling effect, beyond which clotting parameters no longer change, no matter the increase in dose. What this demonstrates is that the normative group selected for assigning typical clotting parameters is actually presenting with atypical clotting, i.e. an excess in a tendency to clot. Once properly nourished, clotting goes to a threshold value, one that I would call the true normal. Fish oil is innocent; sampling bias explains everything.
Corollary evidence for this proposition includes the epidemiological prevalence of medical disorders arising from excessive clotting: ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis.....and the prevalence of blood-thinning medications in the medical armamentarium. Ever hear of anyone taking a "blood thickener", other than a haemophiliac?
The original concerns about haemorrhagic stroke from omega-3 fatty acids arose from a misinterpretation of data arising from Icelandic/Greenlandic Inuit populations. They did have diets with massive omega-3 intake (20-70 grams/day), and had no coronary heart disease, but they did have a high incidence of haemorrhagic stroke (but far lower total stroke incidence). However, that was not because of diet. It was later found to be due to a congenital defect in brain arteries. This is sort of defect is often found in genetically isolated populations, due to what is known as the founder effect. All of the subjects with brain haemorrhages were related. Take those people out of the data, and stroke incidence was almost zero.
<shrug> I don't think there's enough evidence in the world to overcome the bias inherent in the western medical philosophy. It's like they don't want to know.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:744295
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070320/msgs/744386.html