Johnka - timing of omega-3 supps

[Q.]

I was listening to the Berardi audio files this morning and they are talking about omega-3 and omega-6 ratios and I know that you have said that, as they are recommending, that you supplement with omega-3's to improve the ratio in your diet. I started doing this, too, on days that I don't have wild or free-range meat available but I was wondering if you think the timing makes a difference...? I try to take my fish oil capsules with the meal but often don't remember to so do you think it would it be "just as good" or "better than not doing it" to take them later in the day? Know what I mean?

Also, this applies to flax. They recommended flax oil as well as fish oil but I eat some ground flax seed with breakfast (again, when I remember) but, does this help in balancing the omega fatty acids of later meals???

[Johnka]

Hey Brad,
I usually take between 6-10 caps a day, split into 3 or more meals. I don't think the timing makes any difference. If it's better for you at night, then that's probably just as good as any other time.

[Lost Dog]

I'm curious, as well.

I swallow about 12 of those things a day, usually with meals. But, sometimes I find them, still in the bag in my pocket, a good amount of time after my meal. I take them anyway.

I've been assuming that the timing doesn't matter, but with food, you don't taste anything "fishy" afterward.

[Canadian_Bacon]

Time might matter to a degree. Remeber fish oil is still fat. Your liver can oxidize it for energy if it needs to.

For that reason I would probably reccomend taking it w/ meals especially if you are below maintanence to make sure it in incorporated into cells(etc) and not burned.

[Canadian_Bacon]

Here is a study that sort of relates to this topic:

***
Lipids. 2003 Apr;38(4):477-84. Related Articles, Links

Why is carbon from some polyunsaturates extensively recycled into lipid synthesis?

Cunnane SC, Ryan MA, Nadeau CR, Bazinet RP, Musa-Veloso K, McCloy U.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada M5S 3E2. s.cunnane@utoronto.ca

We summarize here the evidence indicating that carbon from alpha-linolenate and linoleate is readily recycled into newly synthesized lipids. This pathway consumes the majority of these fatty acids that is not beta-oxidized as a fuel. Docosahexaenoate undergoes less beta-oxidation and carbon recycling than do alpha-linolenate or linoleate, but is it still actively metabolized by this pathway? Among polyunsaturates, arachidonate appears to undergo the least beta-oxidation and carbon recycling, an observation that may help account for the resistance of brain membranes to loss of arachidonate during dietary deficiency of n-6 polyunsaturates. Preliminary evidence suggests that de novo lipid synthesis consumes carbon from alpha-linolenate and linoleate in preference to palmitate, but this merits systematic study. Active beta-oxidation and carbon recycling of 18-carbon polyunsaturates does not diminish the importance of being able to convert alpha-linolenate and linoleate to long-chain polyunsaturates but suggests that a broad perspective is required in studying the metabolism of polyunsaturates in general and alpha-linolenate and linoleate in particular.