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linoleic acid study and link to UC

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Posted 4/13/2010 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I just found out about this study - it looks at a high consumption of linoleic acid and a link with UC.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158478.php

A research published ahead of print in Gut (International Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) reports that high intakes of linoleic acid might be associated to a third of ulcerative colitis cases. Linoleic acid is a common dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (N-6 PUFA).

I developed UC after a diet super high in flax seed  -- I was eating about 40g a day  and I always thought that that had something to do with my diagnosis.  Why was I eating so much flax seed?  Because I am an American and if a little is good for me, a whole lot must be better. -- Laugh.

Does anyone else have similar findings?

Thanks,

L

Posted 4/13/2010 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for posting this. My daughter (with UC) was vegetarian (not anymore) from birth. I supplemented her diet flax oil, spouted flax, ground flax etc. Hmmmmm?
Posted 4/13/2010 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
WOW...this is very interesting to me, considering I was taking Flax seed oil prior to & during the beginning of my colitis.
But, have not used it in years, nor do I use any kind of margarine or butter for that matter. So why would the flares increase
in duration & severity each time. Good reading though...a new "trigger" to look out for...Thanks for the link!
Posted 4/13/2010 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting. I don't use it, however a few do on here.

q
Posted 4/13/2010 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Is this in other types of foods? I have never, before or after, had anything that was high in flaxseed (that I know of).
Posted 4/13/2010 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Ditto Sherry.
Posted 4/13/2010 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
I think you may be confusing linoleic acid with alpha-lenolenic acid. The former is an omega-6 fatty acid while the latter is an omega-3 fatty acid. Flaxseed contains alpha-lenolenic acid.

This report seems to provide further support to the claim that a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids is not optimal for good health and that flaxseed oil (and fish oil) may be of benefit.

I have one caveat with respect to flaxseed or flaxmeal. Uncooked flaxmeal can cause problems if you consume too much (don't recall the specific details off the top of my head). I generally limit my intake of flaxmeal to baked goods. Flax oil does not pose a problem.
Posted 4/14/2010 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
I think certain peanut butter & things made with peanuts contain lenolenic acid...am I right?? I do know peanut butter kills my intestines!!
Posted 4/14/2010 11:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ickypoo for the information!!
I was eating all of that flaxseed meal uncooked, but I am glad you pointed out my confusion between linoleic acid and alpha-lenolenic acid.
L
Posted 4/14/2010 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
I found this on another site ---

http://www.livestrong.com/article/25872-foods-high-omega6-fatty-acids/
excerpts from article as follows--


...Foods high in linoleic acid include vegetable oil (sunflower, soybean, corn, sesame, cottonseed, grapeseed and walnut), Nuts (walnuts, brazils, almonds and cashews), and seeds (flax, hemp, sunflower, sesame, pine nuts, and pumpkin)....

In this source, flax and nuts are both included - is this in error in the aritcle?

The article ends this way----

...Our bodies must have Omega-6 fatty acids to properly function. However, in excess or with in-balance of them versus Omega-3 fatty acids we can put our bodies at serious risk. For example, arachidonic acid can lead to pain and inflammation if consumed in excess. A diet must be balanced with a ratio in the range of 2:1 to 4:1, Omega-6 to Omega-3. Western diets often contain a ratio of 10:1 to 30:1 and higher. People need to concentrate on eating more Omega-3 foods, such as fatty fish meats and flaxseed....

Now there the article is saying to eat flaxseed ?!

I gave up the flax after my diagnosis, but I remained a nut eater -- usually cashews and pistachios, cashews being called out in this article as being high in linoleic acid.

Is this correct?

Anyone with food knowledge, please reply
Thanks,
L
Posted 4/14/2010 12:20 PM (GMT 0)

Lynn4221 said...
...Foods high in linoleic acid include vegetable oil (sunflower, soybean, corn, sesame, cottonseed, grapeseed and walnut), Nuts (walnuts, brazils, almonds and cashews), and seeds (flax, hemp, sunflower, sesame, pine nuts, and pumpkin)....

In this source, flax and nuts are both included - is this in error in the aritcle?

This is essentially correct but somewhat misleading. As indicated in the article the issue is obtaining the proper balance between omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. With respect to walnut oil, while it is true that it is relatively high in linoleic acid, it also contains alpha-lenolenic acid in a proportion that makes for a low omega-6 to omega-3 ratio -- which is good. Flax oil is similar but contains much more alpha-lenolenic acid.

So if you like nuts as I do, feel free to chow down on walnuts. The same goes for flax but you will want to limit your consumption of raw flax to no more than about 3 tablespoons/day (due to the build up of cyanogen that can negatively affect your thyroid).

As mentioned previously, I take either flax oil (which contains no cyanogen) or use flaxmeal when baking (which eliminates the cyanogen). Including these in your diet should help you obtain a better balance of omega-6 to omega-3 and hopefully reduce your inflammatory response to UC.
Posted 4/14/2010 12:32 PM (GMT 0)

mom2threehasU/C said...
I think certain peanut butter & things made with peanuts contain lenolenic acid...am I right?? I do know peanut butter kills my intestines!!

Well I was eating a brand of peanut butter that did have a lot of omega 6 in it myself for quite a while. Peanut butter I found out also has a high potential of mold and the poison that some mold can produce, Aflatoxin.
Posted 4/14/2010 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
This is a very interesting thread as I consume Flaxseed Oil in capsules at least 3 times/day. The articles that are provided are a bit confusing... Seems like we should take in flaxseed in small quantities and more omega 3 (fish oil caps)? I'm wondering if my flaxseed oil intake in the form of capsules is hindering my remission - I've been taking it for at least 4 years. Any advice?
Posted 4/14/2010 1:15 PM (GMT 0)

bunny23 said...
I'm wondering if my flaxseed oil intake in the form of capsules is hindering my remission - I've been taking it for at least 4 years. Any advice?

I wouldn't worry about your consumption of flaxseed oil - it should be beneficial. Fish oil is generally considered to be superior because it is essentially a more concentrated form of omega-3's. I personally take both (flax and fish oil).
Posted 4/14/2010 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Linoleic acid is found in vegetable oil, not flax and fish oil, and according to the article, converted to arachidonic acid, which is the bad guy. You can also get arachidonic acid directly from egg yolks and meat.

According to the article above "Arachidonic acid can then be converted into various inflammatory chemicals. High levels of these chemicals have been found in the bowel tissue of patients with ulcerative colitis."

Sometime back I asked on this forum if there were many vegetarians here with UC. I figured that vegetarians would consume less arachidonic acid from meat and egg yolks and would be less likely to get UC. But from the responses I got, this forum is full of vegetarians and former vegetarians who contracted UC. But the article did say that linoleic acid was responsible for only 30 percent of UC.

Most of the members seem to believe that their UC originated from antibiotics. But not me. I have never taken any antibiotics in the 20 years prior to my UC diagnosis. But I did consume meat and had eggs for breakfast 5-6 days a week.

Post Edited (BabeintheWoods) : 4/14/2010 8:02:02 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/14/2010 5:04 PM (GMT 0)

BabeintheWoods said...
Linoleic acid is found in vegetable oil, not flax and fish oil, and according to the article, converted to arachidonic acid, which is the bad guy. You can also get arachidonic acid directly from egg yolks and meat.

According to the article above "Arachidonic acid can then be converted into various inflammatory chemicals. High levels of these chemicals have been found in the bowel tissue of patients with ulcerative colitis."

Sometime back I asked on this forum if there were many vegetarians here with UC. I figured that vegetarians would consume less arachidonic acid from meat and egg yolks and would be less likely to get UC. But from the responses I got, this forum is full of vegetarians and former vegetarians who contracted UC. But the article did say that linoleic acid was responsible for only 30 percent of UC.

Most of the members seem to believe that their UC originated from antibiotics. But not me. I have never taken any antibiotics in the 20 years prior to my UC diagnosis. But I did consume meat and had eggs for breakfast 5-6 days a week.

Red meat actually makes me feel better when I eat it. I eat eggs more now since I was recovering from UC and didn't notice negative effects that I could tell. Eggs and red meat do have lots of amino acids and protein that helps you heal. Only thing is what did they feed the chickens and beef? lousy moldy grain, steroids, that is the thing.

If anything I am beginning to think mold and toxins from molds in peanuts, corn, and tomato products could be part of it especially if you are allergic to molds to start with.


I have a bottle of flaxseed oil pills and it says on the label Linolenic Acid omega 3 and Linoleic Acid omega 6. Very close to the same spelling!
Posted 4/15/2010 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ikypoo, I'm also trying to incorporate aloe vera juice into my diet - noticed you're already on that... : )
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