ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
Nutrition is a science of the modern age. The isolation and identification of
vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients including phytochemicals and
essential fatty acids (EFAs) is the result of research over the past century.
The discovery of
EFAs goes back to 1929 and the work of husband-and-wife research team George and
Mildred Burr. Their research showed that a lack of certain fats in the diet of
laboratory rats created skin problems such as dryness, scales and swelling. They
also observed damage to internal organs as the deficiency progressed.
In 1956,
Oxford University’s Hugh Sinclair, one of the world’s greatest nutritional
researchers, believed that most of the degenerative diseases - coronary heart
disease, thrombosis, cancer, diabetes, inflammation and skin diseases - were
caused by a disturbance in fat metabolism. The major reason for this, he wrote,
is that 20th century diets were full of processed foods rich in
saturated fats and trans-fatty acids (“bad” fats), but severely lacking in
essential fatty acids (“good” fats).
It wasn’t until the
1970s, however, that the health value of the omega-3 fatty acids began to
attract recognition.
Scientists made one
of the first associations between omega-3s and human health while studying the
Inuit (Eskimo) people of Greenland who suffered far less from certain diseases
(heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, psoriasis) than their European
counterparts. Yet their diet was very high in fat from eating whale, seal, and
salmon. Eventually researchers realized that these foods were all rich in
omega-3 fatty acids, which provided real disease-countering benefits.
Fat has a bad reputation. It is a word associated with obesity, heart disease
and many other disease states. However, not all fats are bad fats. The different
types of dietary fat fall into three main groups: saturated; mono-unsaturated;
and polyunsaturated.
Saturated fats are the animal-derived ‘hard’ fats such as butter, lard and fat in meat (and used in many processed foods). Chemically-speaking, saturated fats are a chain of carbon atoms jointed by single links, which means that the maximum amount of hydrogen is present. These are the fats to reduce in the diet.
Of the unsaturated fats (so-called because extra hydrogen atoms can be inserted chemically) monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) are made up of a chain of carbon atoms containing one double bond. They characteristically have a lower melting point than saturated fats and so are generally liquids (oils) rather than solids (fats). Olive oil is the best-known example of an oil which contains predominantly monounsaturated fatty acids.
A polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) has more than one double bond in the chain. Two to six double bonds can be found in common edible oils. Vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, and the oils from fish contain high levels of polyunsaturates.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids are further divided into two sub-groups called omega-6 and omega-3 (sometimes referred to as w-6 or w-3 or n-6 and n-3).
Both of these groups are essential for good health and normal growth and are often referred to as ‘essential fatty acids’ (EFAs).
WHAT ARE ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS?
Fatty Acids (there are over 70 of them!) are important for a wide array of cell structure components and for many chemical reactions in the body including hormonal and energy activities. Fatty Acids play a vital role in establishing a healthy lipid barrier in the skin to block irritants and infections. In an animal’s body (and ours) the liver and other tissues can make many of the fatty acids that are required for the body to function. In dogs, though, there is one that they cannot make... Linoleic Acid (GLA is also called Omega6 Fatty Acid). So THAT is called an ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID because the dog needs to consume it from dietary sources. With adequate Omega6 in the dog’s diet the other fatty acids needed for metabolism can be created internally. In cats there are two ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS, Linoleic and Arachidonic Acids. And since Arachidonic Acid is only present in animal tissues, cats must consume meat as a source for this nutrient.
Therefore the cat is considered by scientists to be a strict carnivore and the dog is considered to be an omnivore. The cat cannot sustain its life unless it consumes meat in some form. Dogs, however, are able to survive on plant material alone; they do not have to consume meat. But always keep in mind that dogs do best and by nature are primarily meat-eaters. Just because by definition they are omnivores (can digest and utilize plant and animal food sources) does not mean that plant material alone makes a good source of nutrition for the dog. Far too many dogs have been undernourished by those cheap grain-based dog foods. And grain-based cat foods are even worse!
Linoleic Acid (GLA Omega6) maintains skin and coat condition in dogs and cats. Without enough linoleic acid dogs and cats may experience dull, dry coat, hair loss, greasy skin and increased susceptibility to skin inflammation. When the skin is already irritated due to insufficient high quality fat sources in the diet, any additional irritant such as pollen, dust, bacteria or dampness can trigger intense itching. That’s why supplements that contain Fatty Acids can often have very noticeable beneficial effects in alleviating itching in pets. There is a lag phase for the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid therapy of between 4-12 weeks until maximal benefits are reached. GLA is found in borage seed, evening primrose and black current oils.
Cats also require another fatty acid, Arachidonic Acid (AA), for normal skin and coat health. Therefore, in cats Arachidonic Acid is an Essential Fatty Acid; as mentioned earlier, dogs can make their own Arachidonic Acid from Omega3 Fatty Acid.
Linolenic Acid (ALA Omega3) also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent by stimulating the production of certain hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. Omega3s are found in fatty tissues of all wild animals but appear to be somewhat deficient in domestic livestock such as beef cattle. ALA supplementation has been found to very beneficial with any inflammatory condition and can be found in flax seed oil and most importantly, fish oils.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN A DEFICIENCY OCCURS?
If enough Linoleic Acid (Omega6) is present in the dog’s diet, the other fatty acids can be synthesized within the dog. The simplest way to assess the possibility a deficiency is to take a close look at your pet... really up-close!
If the skin is dry and flaky and the coat actually feels greasy and dull and has a coarse texture, there’s an excellent chance the pet is not getting high quality fats in the diet. Remember, the coat may actually feel oily or greasy and have a rancid odor and yet the dog may have a fat intake deficit. This effect is common in dogs on cheap “reducing” diets because the first thing a manufacturer does in formulating a “reduced calorie diet” is to cut the total fat content of the diet to reduce total calories. The dog or cat may not even loose weight but the potential for a Fatty Acid deficiency is quite probable.
The photo below is typical of a dog that has a Fatty Acid deficiency in its diet. It has been fed a generic, cheap, corn-based food for a long time and the dog did not look good, the coat was dull and coarse and the poor dog was always itching and scratching. Within two weeks on a high quality diet (meat is the first ingredient listed) this dog will look entirely different! Supplemental fatty acids can speed recovery from these deficient states. Many types of dermatological problems are avoided if the dog or cat is consuming an optimum diet. In some cases, adding an Omega Fatty Acid supplement with a number of beneficial ingredients, is the key factor in avoiding repeated episodes of Hot Spots and other skin afflictions. If your dog or cat seems to lack good coat and skin health, consider upgrading the diet to a meat-based ingredient formula and adding an EFA supplement.
DEFINITIONS:
To help understand all this Fatty Acid dialogue, here are some definitions to which you can refer:
Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA) has 18 carbon atoms and is called Omega3 Fatty Acid.
Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) has 18 carbon atoms and is called Omega6 Fatty Acid.
Arachidonic Acid (AA) has 20 carbon atoms and is present only in animal fats.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has 20 carbon atoms and is converted from ALA in the body.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has 22 carbon atoms and is also converted from ALA in the body.
SUMMARY:
Over 2,000 studies have been done on Omega Fatty Acids and their effect on human and animal health.
Below is a brief summary of known facts;
It appears that sufficient amounts of EFA’s can lower blood pressure, reduce the clotting of blood platelets and therefore reduce blood clots, and reduce abnormal heart beating (arrhythmia). It has an important role in mediating and regulating inflammatory and immune responses within the body. ALA and it’s desaturated forms EPA and DHA are used to treat conditions such as atopic dermatitis, food allergies, flea bite allergy, seborrhea complex, pyoderma, degenerative joint disease, hip dysplasia, arthritis, neoplasia, thromboembolic disease, eosinophilic granuloma complex, kidney, liver and cardiac problems, and behavioural disorders with very favourable clinical responses.
Essential fatty acids can be purchased at most veterinary clinics and come in a variety of formulations, with a specific ratio of GLA:ALA. The exact ratio for maximum benefit has not been conclusively determined and there are varying opinions in the scientific community. The best formulations however have other fatty acids, (EPA, DHA) as well as antioxidants, such as vitamin E, and vitamin D and A included. Polyunsaturated fatty acids undergo oxidation if improperly stored, so keep in a dark place at a stable temperature, ideally the refrigerator and only high quality product should be used.
It is obvious from the research over the past 50 years that we should all be supplementing our pets diet, (and our own!), with ESSENTIAL fatty acids over and above what is already in the diet, in order to maintain optimum health and treat or prevent many of the ‘degenerative’ diseases so prevalent in today’s society. Ask your veterinarian about the formulation that would be most beneficial for your pet.
William M. Golbeck BSc DVM
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