Scientists believe changes in the Western diet have altered the balance of omega-6 fatty acids (w6) and omega-3 fatty acids (w3)which resulted in an increased risk of inflammationand they are trying to remedy the problem.
The background to the study says human ancestors maintained a 2:1 w6/w3 ratio, but today the ratio can be as high as 10:1 for Americans.
A recent paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry explains how researchers developed a dietary study during which 27 healthy humans were fed a controlled diet mimicking the w6/w3 ratios for 5 weeks.
They found that the expression of many key genes that promote inflammation was substantially reduced compared to a normal diet. One of them was the gene for a protein called PI3K, which plays an important role in autoimmune and allergic inflammation responses.
Omega-6 fatty acids are found mainly in meat and vegetable oils, while rich sources of omega-3s include flax and fish oil.
Another dietary regimen recommended by health practitioners is the alkaline diet, which is based on high consumption of citrus fruits, vegetables, tubers, nuts and legumes and may boost bone health into old age.
