Posted on 06/24/2023 7:10:17 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Consuming omega-3 fatty acids—particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a nutrient found in foods including flaxseeds, walnuts, and chia, canola and soybean oils—may help slow the progression of disease in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study.
The researchers conducted a study among 449 people living with ALS who participated in a clinical trial. As part of this trial, the severity of their symptoms and the progression of their disease were tested and then scored from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating less severe symptoms of the disease. The researchers measured the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in participants' blood and placed the participants into four groups, from highest to lowest omega-3 fatty acid levels. They then followed up 18 months later to track the groups' physical functionality and survival according to the clinical trial.
They found that ALA showed the most benefits of all the omega-3 fatty acids, as it was most strongly linked to slower decline and decreased risk of death. Of the 126 participants who died within 18 months of the study's onset, 33% belonged to the group with the lowest ALA levels, while 19% belonged to the group with the highest ALA levels. Adjusting for factors like age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, symptom duration, and family history of ALS, the researchers calculated that participants with the highest levels of ALA had a 50% lower risk of death during the study period compared to participants with the lowest levels of ALA.
Two additional fatty acids were also associated with reductions in risk of death during the study period: eicosapentaenoic acid, another omega-3 fatty acid found in fatty fish and fish oil, and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
You are probably getting too much linoleic acid, the primary Omega-6 fat we eat. It is pro-inflammatory.
ALA is from plants and EPA is from animal sources (fish), typically.
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“the researchers calculated that participants with the highest levels of ALA had a 50% lower risk of death during the study period compared to participants with the lowest levels of ALA.”
Which may be true regardless of which disease is being studied!
ALS is a terrible affliction, probably a toxic syndrome, and some antidote to reverse it is needed.
wonder if that is why steve hawkins lasted so long?
certainly is terrible— I’ve known several people, and one close friend who died from it- all were young too-
I think that a toxic cause of ALS, BMAA, is now pretty well established.
The disease may occur when the body mistakenly incorporates the toxic amino acid BMAA in proteins in place of l-serine.
L-serine supplementation has been used successfully in animals to prevent ALS, and there has been some human therapeutic testing, but of course since l-serine is non-patentable there is no money in using it as a treatment. You can buy l-serine for $20 from Amazon.com.
Diet-wise, eggs are high in l-serine, and shellfish tend to be high in BMAA.
Thanks for that info. I haven’t really looked into Als, but it sounds like precautions can be taken. Such a terrible disease. “Air starvation” is a terrible feeling. Folks with als have to endure it over and over and over. I’ve seen testimo y by surviving loved ones who described it- your heart just aches for them and the one who had to go through it
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