From:
Linda Iroff
Date: 2002-01-22 08:51:00 UTC
Subject: more on omega fatty acids, some web references
OK so I spent a few minutes doing some web searches and came across the
following.
http://www.silanutrition.com/flaxomfa.html
This does a fairly good job of explaining the difference between omega-3
and omega-6 fatty acids, and why it is the RATIO of the two that is
important. Typical human diets have 10 to 25 times as much omega-6 as
omega-3. Recommendations are that this be reduced to 4 to 10 times. NOTE
that omega-6 is still supposed to be higher than omega-3.
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~bchem280/omega.html
This site gives amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 in various sources. Note
that flaxseed oil is the ONLY oil where 3 is greater than 6! Safflower oil
is VERY high in 6. Chicken fat is lower in 6, but also has little 3. Most
fatty acid sources that we use are TOO high in 6, hence the recommendation
of flaxseed oil to reduce the ratio a bit.
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/fatguide/fatguide.html
A government guide to fats.
So what does this mean for ferrets, whose natural diet is very different
from ours? It's anybody's guess!
Linda Iroff
still confused in Ohio