FAQ's
Q. What is an inflammatory disease?
A. Inflammatory diseases-- diseases where the body's own defense system turns against itself-- are growing in record numbers in the US and other western countries. Chronic inflammation is suspected or known to be a principle trigger for over 30 conditions and diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergies, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's.
Q. Is inflammation a bad thing?
A. Not all inflammation is necessarily bad. Inflammation is part of the body's normal immune function, which acts as a defense system against bacteria, viruses, tumor cells, and other conditions. Inflammatory diseases build on an imbalance of the immune response. The immune system may fire too quickly or too aggressively or both, or other checks and balances in the system may be altered by the disease process (genetics or environmental effects). The combined result is disease with a significant inflammatory component.
Q. Medicines help people with inflammatory diseases like arthritis. Can medicine be replaced by diet?
A. By no means. Medicines are lifesavers for millions of people. Medicines relieve pain and restore quality of life for sufferers of a variety of inflammatory diseases. However, medications may not act for everyone, may act incompletely, and may carry unwanted side effects. There is not a complete drug solution for inflammatory diseases. Dietary lipids can impact the production of inflammatory mediators and impact disease progression and severity as shown in many of the cardiovascular studies. Diet is an integrative strategy, not an alternative one. Loosing weight, believe it or not, is another great way to fight inflammation.
Q. Fish and plant oil supplements are natural products, but is there any harm in trying them on my own?
A. You need to check with your doctor before starting a regimen with dietary supplements. They could affect medications you are already taking. You need them in the right quantity and quality if they are to be effective. However, you can't go wrong by eating good foods.
Q. What is the main culprit in inflammatory disease?
A. A number of factors come together to cause inflammatory diseases. The dramatic influence of the increase in obesity, diets lacking in proper ratios of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids, lacking in fiber, and the lack of exercise in most Americans are among the contributing causes of inflammatory diseases. Of course, genetics and environment play a role, but dietary lipids can modulate the course of inflammatory diseases.
Q. What do you mean by the quality of the supplement?
A. The quality of dietary supplements is especially important, as they are often extracted from natural plant materials and could contain natural toxins or environmental contaminants. For our Center research projects, we verify the quality and quantities of chemical compounds in each research extract (see Projects - Core A). Manufacturers of commercial products can supply quality assurance data on their products. For more specific information on natural toxins in plant material extracts, see the excellent information at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Q. What is the main defense against inflammatory disease?
A. Many medicines (anti-inflammatory drugs) can help with the signs and symptoms of the disease. But changing the diet to eliminate the foods that can drive inflammation and add foods (such as omega-3 fatty acids) that reduces inflammation can be essential. The best documented examples of this are in cardiovascular diseases which are reduced in populations consuming fish (fish oils containing omega-3 fatty acids which are rich sources of GLA and EPA).
Q. Are there any cautions about the dietary supplement use of GLA or EPA?
A. GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) needs to be balanced with the proper amount of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). Taking high levels of GLA without the right amount of EPA may lead to some of the GLA going being metabolized in the liver to form arachidonic acid (AA), a key inflammatory messenger. This could worsen inflammation.
Q. Where can I look for more information?
A. There are many great places to learn more. This and other NIH Botanical Center sites will connect you to many of those places.
