Superunsatruated Omega-3 Family (W3)

• Alpha linolenic Acid (LNA)
• Stearidonic Acid (SDA)
• Eicosapetaenoic Acid (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

Polyunsaturated Omega-6 Family (W6)

• Linoleic Acid (LA)
• Gamma linolenic Acid (GLA)
  • inhibitors include:
    • "high levels of carbohydrates in the bloodstream, which slow down delta-6-desaturase activity and decrease GLA production;
    • trans fatty acids which inhibit delta-6-desaturase;
    • viral disease;
    • elevated adrenaline (decreases delta-6-desaturase) and cortisol (due to stress) levels which increase insulin levels and lead to excess arachidonic acid production via activation of delta-5-desaturase enzyme. Since activation of delta-5-desaturase depends on insulin, and insulin is balanced by glucogon (which inhibits delta-5-desaturase), it is critical that insulin/glucogon levels are kept in balance." —Breast Milk, Infections, Iron, GLA, EPA, and Asthma
    • "trans-fatty acids from margarine, vegetable shortening and commercially processed vegetable oils hinder D6D (Delta-6-Desaturase) and its vital co-workers-vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B3, zinc and magnesium." (From GLA: The "good" omega-6, by Ann Louise Gittleman, Total Health for Longevity magazine, September 2000. Gittleman recommends Borage Oil (ignoring the problems with it that make Evening Primrose better for some people).
  • Sources:
    • Borage oil contains GLA but in some people's metabolisms (especially those with high insulin, see above) the long-chain fats in it are converted to arachidonic acid.
    • Better: evening primrose oil, no long-chain fats
• Dihomogamma-linolenic Acid (DGLA)
• Arachidonic Acid (AA)

Monounsaturated Omega-7 Family(W7)

Palmitoleic Acid (POA)

Monounsaturated Omega-9 Family (W9)

Oleic Acid (OA)

Saturated Family (W9)

• Stearic Acid (SA)
• Palmitic Acid (PA)
• Butyric Acid (BA)
• Arachidic Acid

Additional Information

• Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill by Udo Erasmus. Alive Books, Burnaby, BC, Canada, 1994.
• FatsforHealth.com —