Omega fatty acid balance can alter immunity and gene expression

www.physorg.com:

Using a controlled diet study
with human volunteers, researchers may have teased out a biological
basis for the increased inflammation observed due to humans’ shift in
their consumption of omega fatty acids.

For the past century, changes in the Western diet have altered the consumption of omega-6 fatty acids (w6, found in meat and vegetable oils) compared with omega-3 fatty acids
(w3, found in flax and fish oil). Many studies seem to indicate this
shift has brought about an increased risk of inflammation (associated
with autoimmunity and allergy), and now using a controlled diet study
with human volunteers, researchers may have teased out a biological
basis for these reported changes.

Anthropological evidence suggests that human ancestors maintained a
2:1 w6/w3 ratio for much of history, but in Western countries today the
ratio has spiked to as high as 10:1. Since these omega fatty acids can
be converted into inflammatory molecules, this dietary change is
believed to also disrupt the proper balance of pro- and anti-
inflammatory agents, resulting in increased systemic inflammation and a
higher incidence of problems including asthma, allergies, diabetes, and
arthritis.