One often-cited reason for supplementing omega 3 is that these fatty acids are incorporated into the cell’s membrane and increase its fluidity[1]. This is thought to be conducive to cell function. Membrane function, importance, and even existence is heavily debated and extremely complex. The idea that increased fluidity is a good thing without discernment lacks logic, for example, these toxins can increase membrane fluidity.
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)[2] (protected by cholesterol feeding)
- DDT[3] (insecticide)
- Lindane[4] (insecticide)
- Polychlorinated biphenyl PCB[5]
- Phenanthrene (PAH)[6]
Furthermore, an increase in fluidity in the cell membrane is associated with cancer cells[7], and in some cases loss in cell viability[8][9].Both prolactin[10], nitric oxide[11] and estrogen[12]can increase membrane fluidity. One way of treating HIV patients is to decrease membrane fluidity[13].
Furthermore increased membrane fluidity increase enzyme leakiness, myelin cell increased fluidity and instability is associated with aging [14]. Under certain conditions increases in fluidity, an infection can be increased[15], membrane fluidity is increased in myotonic dystrophy[16], and Alzheimer’s disease[17]. Furthermore, EPA increases the permeability of the intestinal barrier[18], increase of permeability of tight junction possibly leading to cancer metastasis[19][20], and leaky gut[21].
Olive oil which contains a lot of oleic acid, only has one double bond and therefore is mon-unsaturated (MUFA). Because the double bond is located in the middle, it provides almost the same fluidity as omega 3 fatty acids, but is less fragile.
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[1] Prog Lipid Res. 2004 Sep;43(5):383-402. Omega-3 fatty acids in cellular membranes: a unified concept. Valentine RC1, Valentine DL
[2] M. Gorria, X. Tekpli, O. Sergent, L. Huc, F. Gaboriau, M. Rissel, M. Chevanne, M.T. Dimanche-Boitrel, D. Lagadic-Gossmann. Membrane fluidity changes are associated with benzo[a]pyrene-induced apoptosis in F258 cells: protection by exogenous cholesterol. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 1090 (2006), pp. 108–112
[3] M.C. Antunes-Madeira, V.M. Madeira. Membrane fluidity as affected by the organochlorine insecticide DDT. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1023 (1990), pp. 469–474
[4] M.C. Antunes-Madeira, V.M. Madeira. Membrane fluidity as affected by the insecticide lindane. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 982 (1989), pp. 161–166
[5] B. Yilmaz, S. Sandal, C.H. Chen, D.O. Carpenter Effects of PCB 52 and PCB 77 on cell viability, [Ca(2 + )](i) levels and membrane fluidity in mouse thymocytes. Toxicology, 217 (2006), pp. 184–193
[6] A. Kallimanis, S. Frillingos, C. Drainas, A.I. Koukkou. Taxonomic identification, phenanthrene uptake activity, and membrane lipid alterations of the PAH degrading Arthrobacter sp. strain Sphe3 Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 76 (2007), pp. 709–717
[7] RESEARCH ARTICLE. Membrane fluidity matters: Hyperthermia from the aspects of lipids and Membranes. Balint Csoboz., Gabor E. Balogh. , Erzsebet Kusz. , Imre Gombos. , Maria Peter. Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary, Institute of Genetics, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary, and 3Experimental Oncology Department, Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Put Dr Goldmana 4, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia
[8] Pilkington, E. H. et al. Pancreatic β-Cell Membrane Fluidity and Toxicity Induced by Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Species. Sci. Rep. 6, 21274; doi: 10.1038/srep21274 (2016)
[9] Journal of the Neurological Sciences. Volume 92, Issues 2–3, September 1989, Pages 205–214. Increased plasma membrane fluidity and decreased receptor availability of nonmuscle cells in myotonic dystrophy. C. Hübner, S.G. Lindner, M. Albani, M. Ballmann, B. Keup, M. Schürmann, H. Stegner, M. Claussen, A. Kohlschütter
[10] Am J Physiol. 1985 Jun;248(6 Pt 1):E687-93. Prolactin increases lipid fluidity and prolactin binding of rat prostatic membranes. Dave JR, Witorsch RJ.
[11] Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2000 Sep 7;275(3):946-54. Nitric oxide improves membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in essential hypertension: An electron paramagnetic resonance investigation. Tsuda K1, Kimura K, Nishio I, Masuyama Y.
[12] Role of Estrogens in the Regulation of Membrane Microviscosity Kazushi Tsuda and Ichiro Nishio. http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.RES.0000115311.56442. A6Published: February 6, 2004
[13] European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. September 1989, Volume 37, Issue 5, pp 521–523. Decreased plasma membrane fluidity of peripheral blood lymphocytes after diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) therapy in HIV-infected patients. H. A. LehrJ. P. ZimmerC. HübnerE. C. ReisingerA. KohlschütterM. ClaussenH. SchmitzM. Dietrich.
[14] Neurochemical Studies in Aging Brain. I. Structural Changes in Myelin Lipids1Michael J. Malone, MD, Professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, Director2 and Maria C. Szoke, BS3
[15] Microbiol Immunol. 1998;42(2):97-107. Enhancement of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection via increased membrane fluidity by a cationic polymer. Owada T1, Miyashita Y, Motomura T, Onishi M, Yamashita S, Yamamoto N.
[16] Evani SJ, Ramasubramanian AK. Biophysical regulation of Chlamydia pneumoniae-infected monocyte recruitment to atherosclerotic foci. Scientific Reports. 2016;6:19058. doi:10.1038/srep19058.
[17] Mech Ageing Dev. 1991 Jun 14;59(1-2):153-62. Altered membrane anisotropy gradients of plasma membranes of living peripheral blood leukocytes in aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Collins JM, Scott RB, McClish DK, Taylor JR, Grogan WM.
[18] J Immunol. 1990 Oct 1;145(7):2241-8. Evidence that increasing the cellular content of eicosapentaenoic acid does not reduce the biosynthesis of platelet-activating factor. Triggiani M1, Connell TR, Chilton FH.
[19] Nutrition. 2003 Feb;19(2):150-6. Effect of gamma-linolenic acid or docosahexaenoic acid on tight junction permeability in intestinal monolayer cells and their mechanism by protein kinase C activation and/or eicosanoid formation. Usami M1, Komurasaki T, Hanada A, Kinoshita K, Ohata A.
[20] Loss of tight junction barrier function and its role in cancer metastasis. Tracey A. Martin, , Wen G. Jiang Metastasis and Angiogenesis Research Group, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK. Received 14 March 2008, Revised 29 October 2008, Accepted 6 November 2008.
[21] Clin Nutr. 2001 Aug;20(4):351-9. Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on tight junction permeability in intestinal monolayer cells. Usami M1, Muraki K, Iwamoto M, Ohata A, Matsushita E, Miki A.