Altern Med Rev 2001 Feb;6(1):61-77 Can manipulation of the ratios of essential fatty acids slow the rapid rate of postmenopausal bone loss? Kettler DB. Private practice: Sky Park Wellness Center, Irvine, CA. Correspondence Address: 18102 Sky Park South, Irvine, CA 92614. E-mail: dr.debra@home.com The rapid rate of postmenopausal bone loss is mediated by the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Dietary supplementation with fish oil, flaxseeds, and flaxseed oil in animals and healthy humans significantly reduces cytokine production while concomitantly increasing calcium absorption, bone calcium, and bone density. Possibilities may exist for the therapeutic use of the omega-3 fatty acids, as supplements or in the diet, to blunt the increase of the inflammatory bone resorbing cytokines produced in the early postmenopausal years, in order to slow the rapid rate of postmenopausal bone loss. Evidence also points to the possible benefit of gamma-linolenic acid in preserving bone density. PMID: 11207457 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] Nutr Cancer, 2001 J Nutr, 2/04 J Clin Nutrition, August 2006 Posted October 2006 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.