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dative destruction of PUFA (see Figure 3d)—rose it. Nevertheless, the danger of breaking glass will Oxidative
to fifty times the normal level. Although MDA increase simply by having too much of it around.
causes birth defects, Sinclair was not worried about Likewise, the consumption of excess PUFAs stress, or lipid
having “misshapen offspring” because his sperm increases oxidative stress even when the oils are peroxidation,
had disappeared. 31 fresh and properly cared for. Consumption of fresh,
Sinclair’s experience illustrates one of the non-oxidized DHA, EPA or omega-3-rich perilla can be
unique dangers of all essential fatty acids, regard- oil increases markers of oxidative stress in rats. 58 thought of
less of their class—their vulnerability to oxidative Rats fed 30 percent of their diet as corn oil have
stress. double the rate of lipid peroxidation, half the aero- as the
Oxidative stress, or lipid peroxidation, shown bic capacity, and 42 percent lower glycogen stores destruction of
in Figure 3, can be thought of as the destruction of in their heart tissue compared to rats fed an equal
structurally and functionally important molecules amount of coconut oil. A randomized, double- structurally
59
within the body, beginning with the shattering of blind, placebo-controlled trial likewise showed and
PUFAs. PUFAs, in this sense, are like delicate that six grams per day of fish oil increased lipid
glass. Glass performs many useful functions: we peroxides and MDA in healthy men, regardless of functionally
use it to protect ourselves and our property from whether they were supplemented with 900 IU of important
the assaults of raging storms, for the utensils vitamin E (see Figure 4). 60
from which we eat and drink, to see when our vi- Sinclair might have better replicated the molecules
sion fails, to examine complex specimens whose “Eskimo diet” had he sought the guidance of within the
details we cannot otherwise distinguish with the an Eskimo. Arachidonic acid is necessary for
naked eye, and in many other more sophisticated sperm production, and the liberal consumption of body,
examples of modern technology. At the same time, glands and other organs rich in arachidonic acid beginning with
glass is delicate and can shatter. When glass shat- may protect the Inuit and Aleut peoples from the
ters, it invariably leaves behind a mess of dangerous high levels of EPA they obtain from fatty fish and the shattering
shards. Anyone who breaks a glass on their kitchen marine oils. There may be other components of of PUFAs.
31
floor knows to clean up the shards immediately, their traditional diets that limit the vulnerability of
lest they or their family cut their feet by walking PUFAs to oxidative stress, such as antioxidants like
on them. Likewise, when PUFAs shatter they leave coenzyme Q , lipoic acid, and preformed vitamin
10
behind shards such as MDA, which are capable of A found abundantly in organ meats, or other un-
damaging proteins, DNA and other structurally and known factors. Human studies have generally used
functionally important components of our cells. alpha-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, to protect
The best way to avoid shattering glass is to against the oxidation of fish oils within the body,
be careful with how one uses, cleans and stores but supplements of pure alpha-tocopherol suppress

FIGURE 4. Fish Oil Increased in Lipid Peroxides and MDA in Humans While Vitamin E Had No Effect

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-
controlled trial compared six weeks of
supplementation with six grams per day of
omega-3 fatty acids from menhaden fish oil
to supplementation with six grams per day
of olive oil, with or without 900 IU per day
of vitamin E as synthetic alpha-tocopherol,
in healthy men. For each group, the
bar on the left represents the change in
lipid peroxides, and the bar on the right
represents the change in MDA. Asterisks
indicate a statistically significant increase
over the course of the six weeks. Fish
oil supplementation caused a significant
increase in lipid peroxides while MDA and
vitamin E had no effect. Adapted from the
data in reference 60.

FALL 2010 Wise Traditions 27