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fat-free extract of cod liver oil to supply vitamins arachidonic acid but do not use arachidonic acid Later
A and D, and in some experiments they used a to synthesize linoleic acid, this effectively demon-
fat-free extract of wheat germ to supply vitamin strated that only arachidonic acid is needed to cure experiments
E. When they fed this diet to young, growing rats, the deficiency. showed that
the rats developed irritated, sore and scaly skin, In the 1970s, researchers cured the dermatitis
dandruff, and hair loss. Their tails were inflamed, associated with essential fatty acid deficiency by butter, which
swollen, scaled and rigid, and were hemorrhaging topically applying prostaglandin E (PGE ) to the contains small
2
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in certain spots (Figure 1). Their kidneys degener- skin of deficient rats. PGE is a short-lived sig-
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ated and blood appeared in their urine. The females naling compound that our bodies synthesize from amounts of
2
stopped ovulating and became infertile. Rats of arachidonic acid. It stimulates the formation of both fatty
both sexes drank massive amounts of water, yet did gap junctions 12-13 and tight junctions, which are
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not urinate any more than the control rats, suggest- protein-based connections between cells whose acids, could
ing the water simply evaporated right out of their vast array of functions includes regulating the fully cure
skin. Despite eating much more food, they gained permeability of the skin barrier. 15-16 The skin of
much less weight; after several months they began essential fatty acid-deficient rats not only evapo- the disease if
to lose weight and within six months to a year they rated copious amounts of water but also became provided in
all had died. 7-8 permeable to lethal chemicals like barium sulfide,
None of the vitamins cured the disease. to which the skin is normally impermeable. Rats large enough
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Coconut oil, whether fully hydrogenated or not, with genetic defects in gap junction formation amounts.
could not cure the disease, and the curative effect develop scaly skin, increased permeability of the
of butter was very weak. The fatty acid fraction skin barrier, defective ovulation and infertility.
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of cod liver oil helped lessen the symptoms and Rats with genetic defects in tight junction formation
prevented the early death, while lard, liver, corn exhibit excessive water loss through the skin. With
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oil, flax oil and olive oil fully cured the disease. either defect, most of the rats die soon after birth.
All of the effective oils had one thing in common: Essential fatty acid deficiency therefore seems to
the presence of either linoleic acid or arachidonic be a result of our bodies having insufficient arachi-
acid, both of which are omega-6 polyunsaturated donic acid available to synthesize the PGE needed
2
fatty acids (PUFAs). Later experiments showed to turn on the genes involved in forming critical
7-8
that butter, which contains small amounts of both junctions between cells.
fatty acids, could fully cure the disease if provided
in large enough amounts. Purified linoleic or ara- HOW ESSENTIAL ARE THE
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chidonic acids were each capable of fully curing ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS?
the deficiency when provided alone. Arachidonic The Burrs cured essential fatty acid deficiency
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acid was at least three times more effective than in young, growing rats using 0.4 percent of calo-
linoleic acid, and probably would have proven to ries as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) when
be even more effective had lower doses been used. provided by lard and 0.1 percent of calories when
Since our bodies use linoleic acid to synthesize provided by liver. Evidence suggests the require-
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FIGURE 1. Tails of Essential Fatty Acid Deficient and Normal Rats

a. This rat was fed the essential fatty acid deficient
diet without a curative oil. Its tail is plagued by
dermatitis and scaly lesions.

b. This rat was fed the essential fatty acid deficient
diet supplemented with 0.4 percent of calories as
PUFA provided by lard. Its tail is entirely normal
in appearance.

FALL 2010 Wise Traditions 21