The Biochemistry of Lyprinol
Lyprinol is an excellent source of long chain Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; these are essential for our health. Our body doesn't produce them which means that we need to get them from our diet.
Lyprinol can be defined as "a patented marine lipid group comprising a unique combination of non-polar lipid groups and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids". Quite a mouthful in more ways than one, then.
The following can all be found in Lyprinol:
- octadecatetraenoic acid (OTA)
- eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA)
- eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
- sterol esters
- polar lipids
- carotenoids
The five main lipid classes found in Lyprinol are:
- sterol esters
- triglycerides
- free fatty acids
- sterols
- polar lipids
There are approximately 8-10 different marine sterols in the sterol esters and sterol fractions. Lyprinol also contains more than 30 different essential fatty acids. These are mixtures of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
The two main Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present in Lyprinol are:
- eicosapentaenoic acid (20 carbon atoms and five double bonds, so 20:5 Omega-3)
- docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 Omega-3)
Lyprinol also contains several other Omega-3 PUFAs which all have four double bonds and carbon chain lengths of 18, 19 and 20. In shorthand, therefore, they are described as 18:4 Omega-3, 19:4 Omega-3 and 20:4 Omega-3 respectively.
Why are Omega-3 Fatty Acids So Important?
The body requires an even mix of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to function properly. These have different roles, but work together among other things in the body's immune response.
One of the roles of Omega-6 is to stimulate inflammation when the body is invaded by bacteria or viruses, whilst Omega-3 helps control the reaction. The western diet contains little Omega-3 and too much Omega-6. As a result many people respond to a trigger, producing a lot of inflammation, without the control mechanism to stop or moderate the reaction.
Supplementing the diet with sources rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help rebalance the levels of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids, helping the body maintain its normal function.
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