Do you need to take all of those anti-inflammatory drugs?

Explain how the anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, NSAIDS and steroids block normal prostaglandin function.

Let’s start by understanding how prostaglandins work in our body as this was a new lesson for me!

Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that our body needs to continue living!  These hormone-life substances occur in nearly all our body tissues and fluids.  The prostaglandins are conjugated or formed from elongated forms of essential fatty acids that we must obtain in our diet (essential- not made in the body).  The prostaglandins are thought to be made or synthesized in the cell membranes throughout our body.

Essential fatty acids are needed for prostaglandin production so we need to obtain the two required fats in our diet to make this happen: 

1. Linoleic Acid: Omega 6 pro-inflammatory fatty acids
2. Alpha Linolenic Acid: Omega 3 anti-inflammatory fatty acids

Prostaglandins are needed in our body to carry through several required functions as:

1. Regulate the cell’s communication system – as open/close the channels
2. Fine tuning of homeostasis in the body
3. Improving blood flow within the kidneys
4. Dilatating the bronchial tubes
5. Controlling inflammatory functions

If we consume anti-inflammatory drugs as aspirin, NSAID and steroids then we block the normal prostaglandin functions as listed above.  The body needs to be able to inflame and anti-flame to heal from injuries.  If we block this normal healing function that the body does with prostaglandins by taking popular anti-inflammatory drugs, then we are slowing down our own innate ability to heal.

We have three groups of prostaglandins that help control the inflammatory function in our body:

1. Anti-inflammatory prostaglandins:
   1. PG1
   2. PG3
2. Pro-inflammatory prostaglandins
   1. PG2

Let’s start by looking at how the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins (PG1) are formed:

1. Omega-6 fatty acid is consumed
   1. Corn
   2. Safflower
   3. Peanut
   4. Most oils

2. Co-factors required for formation of PG1:
   1. Proper digestion
   2. Proper liver function
   3. Enzymes including delta-6
      1. Amino acids
      2. Vitamin B6

• Magnesium
• Zinc

3. Stimulators:
   1. Vitamins E, C, B3 and B6
   2. Magnesium
   3. Zinc

4. Turns into LA = Linoleic Acid
5. Turns into GLA = Gamma-linolenic Acid
   1. Omega 6 sources as
      1. black current seed
      2. evening primrose oil
      3. borage oil

6. Turns into DGLA: Docosahexaenoic Acid
7. Turns into PG1 = anti-inflammatory

Next to make the other anti-inflammatory prostaglandin PG3 the process is as follows:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids: plant based
   1. Flax
   2. Wheat germ
   3. Walnut
   4. Hemp
2. Turns into ALA: Alpha Linolenic Acid
3. Turns into EPA: Eicosapentaenoic Acid
4. Results in the formation of PG3: Anti-inflammatory prostaglandins

Also, we can make PG3 from fish oils as well as plant sources:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids:
   1. Fish oils
2. Turns into DHA = to PG3 anti-inflammatory

Just as PG1 formation, to form PG3 with both plant and animal sources of omega 3 fatty acids also require co-factors as:

1. Proper digestion
2. Proper liver function
3. Enzymes as:
   1. Amino acids
   2. Vitamin B6
   3. Magnesium
   4. Zinc

And stimulators as:

1. Vitamin E, C, B3 and B6
2. Magnesium
3. Zinc

Now how do we have pro-inflammatory prostaglandins to help in balancing the healing process from injuries?

We make PG2 the pro-inflammatory prostaglandins by consuming saturated fats:

1. Eat saturated fats
   1. Organs
   2. Red meats
   3. Dairy
   4. Shell fish
   5. Coconut oil
2. Turns into AA = Arachidonic Acid
3. Turns into PG2 = anti-inflammatory prostaglandins

 If we consume aspirin, NSAIDS and steroids then we are inhibiting this entire process of the PG1, PG2 and PG3 prostaglandin formation required to for the body to naturally heal from injuries or pain.  We need to avoid taking excess quantities of anti-inflammatory pills as well as add more essential fatty acids into our daily food plan. 

Also we need to keep in mind the importance of the co-factors involved in the process of forming prostaglandins:

1. Digestion: must be working correctly and fats are emulsified
2. Liver: must be working and able to convert enzymes
3. Enzymes: the required vitamins and minerals must be present in order to produce enzymes.

 

Make making sure the above processes are functioning effectively and efficiently then we should be able to heal and repair from injuries without an over dependence of anti-inflammatory pills.

Practitioners could test the fatty acid deficiency on clients to determine if low essential fatty acids are an opportunity to improve.  Fatty acids may be needed to increase as from specific plant and fish oils as well as supplements in the co-factors required to form prostaglandin in the body.