Search
Language
Omega-6 fatty acids and weight loss
Table of Contents
1. Is that what omega-6 fatty acids are at all?
Fatty acids consist of a carbon chain with a carboxylic group (-COOH) at one end and a methyl group (-CH3) at the other. Depending on its length and the type of bonds between the individual carbon atoms, saturated and unsaturated fats are distinguished.2. Omega-6 fatty acids are the source
Sources of omega-6 fatty acids are: corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, egg yolk, sunflowers, pumpkin seeds, nuts, etc. The content of arachidonic acid and linoleic acid in selected food products are shown in the following tables.3. Omega-6 fatty acids properties
Polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-6, are essential components of the membranes of all cells in the body. They affect their permeability, ion transport through the skin, calcium binding, and prostaglandin concentration. Proper release of polyunsaturate fatty acid enhances their fluidity and conditions the proper functioning of cells, including heart muscle and nervous system. They build up the cell membranes in the central nervous systems, which makes the development of the brain and brain particularly important for children and young people.4. Omega-6 fatty acids and weight loss
Omega-6 fatty acids affect weight gain. In the process of transforming arachidonic acid, specific receptor-activating metabolites are produced that increase appetite, stimulate the synthesis of fat cells, and increase the concentration of triglycerides. This was confirmed by the study of Ruzicka J. et al. in rats. Bites that consumed large amounts of omega-6 acids were characterized by significantly greater body mass than those fed omega-3 acids. Wang L. et a. carried out a study in women of body mass.5. CLA-containing linoleic acid for weight loss
CLA is a trans fatty acid isomer belonging to the family of omega-6 fatty acids. Its natural sources are ruminant milk and its derivatives and meat, i.e. beef, pork or lamb. The effect of CLA on the body depends on the places in the chain where the configuration occurred. Its most active form is CLA with a cis-9, trans-11, trans-10, linolenic acid configuration. In natural CLA products, 90% is present in the cis-9 configuration alone.6. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids
Essential unsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 should account for 1/3 of the body's daily fat needs. They are metabolized by the same enzymes and have opposite physiological effects in the body. Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory, whereas omega-6s are pro-infectious. Therefore, consuming them in an appropriate proportion is very important for maintaining balance. Most studies show that a diet with an adequate omega-6 to omega-3 ratio prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases and reduces the number of deaths caused by these diseases.7. Are omega-6 fatty acids harmful at all?
In the body, omega-6 fatty acids are subjected to a variety of enzymatic transformations. As I wrote above, linoleic acid produces arachidonic acid (AA), and arachidic acid makes inflammatory mediators, i.e. prostaglandins, thromboxans, fatty hydroxides, lipoxins, and leukotrienes.8. Effects of excess omega-6 fatty acids
Overconsumption of omega-6s is a relatively new problem that has emerged in the last 100 to 150 years. It is related to changes in the omega-3s in food. In the past, humans used to eat meat from live animals and wild plants. Currently, the consumption of these fatty acids is very frequent at a ratio of 20:1, and even higher. Overconsuming omega-6 is a comparatively new problem which has appeared in the past 100 to150 years. This is due to the change in the Omega-3s content of foods.
