Observations placeholder
Essential Fatty Acids, Viral infections and Eczema
Identifier
012001
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
To put this another way, to fight viruses and reduce skin diseases - often caused by viral infections - more omega 6 efas should be consumed
A description of the experience
Med Hypotheses. 1990 Jul;32(3):211-7. Post-viral fatigue syndrome, viral infections in atopic eczema, and essential fatty acids. Horrobin DF. Efamol Research Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Three clinical observations relating to viral infections are well-known but poorly understood. These are: the susceptibility of people with atopic eczema to viral infections; the occasional precipitation of an atopic syndrome by viral infections; the occurrence of a fatigue syndrome following viral infections. A unifying hypothesis is presented which explains these observations in terms of the interactions between viral infections and essential fatty acid (EFA) metabolism. Key elements of the hypothesis are the facts that interferon requires 6-desaturated EFAs in order to exert its anti-viral effects, that people with atopic eczema have low levels of 6-desaturated EFAs, and that viruses, as part of their attack strategy, may reduce the ability of cells to make 6-desaturated EFAs. The hypothesis has practical implications for the treatment of patients with viral infections.
PMID: 2204789