Preventing OsteoporosisWhen Calcium Gets Stored in All the Wrong Places A New Approach to Preventing Osteoporosis with Organic Flax Seed Oil Brittle bone disease or osteoporosis is one of the most common causes of disability in women as they age, often causing disfiguration, hospitalization or surgery via falls and fractures. Most women know that adequate calcium is essential for healthy bones. Some women even know that other minerals and nutrients such as magnesium, silicon, and boron, as well as vitamin D are also essential to healthy bones. But what most don't know is that there is growing evidence that essential fatty acids are super bone protectors. In some cases of osteoporosis the body's stored calcium gets deposited in other tissues and organs, besides the bones, causing kidney disease and, most commonly, arteriosclerosis (or coronary artery disease). Essential fatty acids correct this tendency of the aging body to store calcium in all the wrong places. Essential Fatty Acid Background An essential fatty acid is a type of fat that the body cannot produce itself but must receive via dietary sources. There are two major types of essential fatty acids: Omega-6 fatty acids Linoleic acid (LA) is a fat commonly found in cooking oils (corn, safflower, sunflower). "Many researchers speculate that while the American diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids from vegetable oils, much of this fat is rendered unusable by over-refinement or hydrogenation," notes women's health expert Tori Hudson, N.D. The intake of these oils tends to increase the body's inflammation levels and interferes with the synthesis of other essential fatty acids. So these abundant nutrients may be said to be in bodily overabundance. Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is less commonly found in the everyday diet. It is derived from borage, black currant, and evening primrose oils. The body needs dietary linoleic acid to make gamma-linolenic acid. But, often, it's ability to do so is impaired. Omega-3 fatty acids Alpha-linolenic acid is the parent compound of all omega-3 fatty acids. It is found in seeds, nuts, whole grains, dark leafy green vegetables, and hemp, but most abundantly in flax seed oil. As an essential nutrient, the body cannot manufacture its own omega-3 fatty acids but must obtain them in the foods we eat. The problem is that women simply do not receive enough omega-3's in their standard American diet. According to Dr. Artemis Simopoulos, M.D., author of The Omega Diet (Harper Collins 1999), omega-3 fatty acids are undetectable in blood samples of 20 percent of Americans, and, as for most of the rest of us, we are critically deficient in this vital nutrient. Since the body cannot manufacture its own omega-3 fatty acids, the need to supplement our diet with rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids is vital.  Interest in essential fatty acids and osteoporosis stems from recent
research showing essential fatty acid-deficient animals develop severe
osteoporosis coupled with increased deposits of calcium in the kidneys
and arteries, thereby indicating that the body's metabolism of this vital
mineral is impaired, notes Drs. M.C. Kruger and D.F. Horrobin, of the
Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Drs. Kruger and Horrobin note, "EFA's have now been shown to increase calcium absorption from the gut, in part by enhancing the effects of vitamin D, to reduce urinary excretion of calcium, to increase calcium deposition in bone and improve bone strength and to enhance the synthesis of bone collagen." Experimental Evidence In an experimental study, published in 1999, a gamma-linolenic/ eicosapentaenoic acid combination increased calcium levels in female rats whose ovaries were removed, compared to rats receiving only placebo. However, when the essential fatty acid combination was added to supplemental estrogen, this enhanced the effect of estrogen on bone calcium. Thus, it is reasonable to speculate that essential fatty acids may make estrogen drugs, used by women for maintaining bone mass, even more effective. In another experimental study, supplementation with essential fatty acids was shown to prevent experimentally induced calcification of the kidneys (nephrocalcinosis). The protective effect was enhanced with the addition of the antioxidant lipoic acid. Clinical Evidence Based on such experimental studies, Dr. Kruger set up a pilot study to test the interactions between calcium and eicosapentaenoic acid and gamma-linolenic acid in humans. Sixty-five women (with an average age of 79.5 years), taking a background diet low in calcium, were randomly assigned to ingest an eicosapentaenoic acid/gamma-linolenic acid combination or coconut oil placebo capsules; in addition, all of the women received 600 mg per day calcium carbonate. Markers of bone formation and degradation and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured at the start of the study and at six, twelve, and eighteen months. Twenty-one patients continued on the essential fatty acid regimen for a second period of 18 months, after which BMD (at 36 months) was measured. At eighteen months, levels of marker chemicals such as osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline fell significantly in both groups, indicating a decrease in bone turnover, whereas bone specific alkaline phosphatase rose, indicating beneficial effects of the calcium that was given to all the patients. In contrast, bone mineral density as measured in the lumbar spinal vertebra and femoral (thighbone) areas showed different effects in the two groups. Over the first 18 months, lumbar spine density remained the same in the treatment group, but decreased 3.2 percent in the placebo group. Femoral bone density increased 1.3 percent in the treatment group, but decreased 2.1 percent in the placebo group. During the second period of 18 months with all patients now on active treatment, lumbar spine density increased 3.1 percent in patients who remained on active treatment, and 2.3 percent in patients who switched from placebo to active treatment; meanwhile, femoral bone mineral density showed an increase of 4.7 percent among persons switched to the active treatment. "This pilot controlled study suggests that GLA and EPA have beneficial effects on bone in this group of elderly patients, and that they are safe to administer for prolonged periods of time," says Dr. Kruger. The Doctors Prescription This is good news, indeed, for women concerned about their skeletal health. Supplementing your diet with oils high in gamma-linolenic acid may improve absorption of calcium and enhance calcium content in the bone, while omega-3 fatty acids may improve the blood levels of calcium and help to correct a deficient calcium effect in the bone. We recommend flax as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, women who choose to use flax seed oil as a source of alpha-linolenic acid should reduce their intake of sunflower, safflower and corn oils as much as possible. These oils interfere with the body's ability to synthesize eicosapentaenoic acid from alpha-linolenic acid. Choosing the Right Formula We've received extremely positive reports from women whose lives have truly been transformed once they've begun to use flax seed oil and other complementary oils. In addition to the noted benefits of improved calcium absorption, many women experiencing early signs of menopause or who have PMS symptoms also may benefit from the combination of flax oil, evening primrose oils, and soy isoflavones. Look for these ingredients on the product label. Such products are kept in the refrigerator section of your favorite health food store.  How to Find the Best Flax Seed Oil and Women's Flax Seed Oil Complex
The choice of a flax oil product is critical since the quality of the oil determines its taste, antioxidant powers and, of course, content of lignans (which fight to reduce women's breast cancer risk). Be sure the company that produces your flax is M.A.D. about lignan-rich flax oil. Here's what to look for when it comes to being M.A.D. about fresh flax oil: This service is called Fresh ExPress and it guarantees you the absolute freshest flax oil anywhere. You will find this type of extremely high-quality, lignan-rich, flax oil in the refrigerator sections of natural health centers nationwide. References: 1. footnote* Kruger, M.C. & Horrobin, D.F. ÒCalcium metabolism, osteoporosis and essential fatty acids: a review.Ó Prog Lipid Res, 1997;36(2-3):131-151. 2. Schlemmer, C.K., et al. ÒEctopic calcification of rat aortas and kidneys is reduced with n-3 fatty acid supplementation.Ó Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids, 1998;59(3):221-227. |