Todd Moody wrote:
> According to some, the problem with eggs is not cholesterol but
> arachidonic acid, from which many "bad" eicosanoids (and a few
> "good" ones) are synthesized in the body.  Eggs from free-range
> chickens are lower in AA and therefore preferable; wild eggs
> would be lowest of all.

Todd
First I must reveal that I feel self conscious about responding to your
posts almost preferentially.  Admittedly, you frame your ascertions in a
manner I can really sink my teeth into ... thanks!!!!!

I have some strong opinions about arachidonic acid (AA) and diet.  My
opinions are formed by my love and quite frankly my obsession for
biochemistry.  Unfortunately, we study biochemistry as sets of linear
equation which they're not.  Biochemistry is a set of dynamically
interrelated reactions et cetera.  The food and nutrition industry has
scapegoated AA improperly.  True AA serves as the basis for series 2
eicosanoids however it is vital to our biological survival.  I firmly
believe that there is an evolutionary basis (however, I'm not an expert
in evolution and feel funny about what I'm going to say).  I believe our
organism needs and expects AA from its dietary sources.  These dietary
sources are organ meats, skeletal muscle and eggs.  AA is so necessary
that provisions have been made biochemically to allow the body to
manufacture large quantities of AA if they are not provided directly by
the diet.  In fact, if one gives up animal products as the source of AA
your body will convert n-6 FA to AA.  Specifically,  HIGH-CARBOHYDRATE
diet low in animal fats will increase insulin.  Increased insulin will
activate an enzyme system called delta-5-desaturase (D5D).  D5D converts
the n-6 FA dihomogamma linolenic acid (DGLA) into AA.  Normally, in a
low insulin environment D5D is quiescent with DGLA being converted (by
the help of cyclo-oxygenase) into prostaglandin E1 a good eicosanoid.
In the absence of dietary sources of AA and with dietary meats being
crowded out by high CHO foods, the body (specifically the liver in this
instance) manufactures the substances vital to its existence (in this
case AA).

AA is not a villan.  It helps to clot your blood which is useful if you
plan on not bleeding to death.  And not bleeding to death is a good
evolutionary mechanism we shouldn't ignore <BIG SMILE>.  Thanks for
being the midwife to this post!

Andrew =8-)
--
Andrew S. Bonci, BA, DC, DAAPM
Assistant Professor, Department of Diagnosis
Cleveland Chiropractic College
6401 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, Missouri   64131
(816) 333-7436 ex39