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How dietary polyunsaturated fats, especially omega-6 from seed oils, influence inflammation & heart health.

Topics Discussed:

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): Omega-6 from seed oils like safflower and corn can convert to pro-inflammatory molecules, while omega-3s produce resolving ones; imbalance biases toward chronic inflammation.
• Inflammation regulation: Acute inflammation aids healing but requires active “on” and “off” signals from lipid mediators; chronic inflammation arises from excess omega-6, delaying resolution.
• Heart health & diet: High omega-6 diets worsen post-heart attack outcomes in mice by elevating pro-inflammatory lipids.
• Evolution & historical context: PUFAs are essential but naturally balanced in pre-industrial diets; modern processing skews ratios, contributing to diseases, as shown in early rat experiments needing minimal fats for survival.
• Aging & lifestyle factors: Excess omega-6 exacerbates inflammation in older mice; sleep, exercise, and balanced fats are crucial for metabolic health and enzyme function in processing lipids.
• Cannabis & omega-6 interaction: In mice on high omega-6 diets, CBD-rich cannabis smoke reaches the heart quickly, suppresses immune response, and weakens cardiac strain, unlike in balanced-diet controls.
• Genetic models: FAT-1 mice converting omega-6 to omega-3 show better healing and neuroprotection; FAT-2 mice doing the opposite exhibit liver fibrosis and metabolic issues, highlighting omega-6 excess harms.

Practical Takeaways:

• Balance omega-6 and omega-3 intake by reducing seed oils in processed foods and increasing sources like fish or algae to support inflammation resolution and heart health.
• Monitor and adjust fat intake with age, as older individuals are more sensitive to omega-6 excess leading to immune dysregulation.
• Avoid combining high omega-6 diets with smoking, as it may impair immune and cardiac responses based on animal data.

About the guest: Ganesh Halade, PhD is a cardiovascular scientist and associate professor at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.

*Not medical advice.

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