Essential Fatty Acid Profile

Have you tried to find a reputable laboratory that performs dependable Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) assays, lately?

It’s time you should know Meridian Valley Laboratory, Inc. – the pioneer in nutritional testing. We offer state of the art EFA assays you can count on to aid in diagnosis and therapy for you patients. Is your patient low in Omega-3 fatty acids? Is there an imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 metabolites? Should you recommend an expensive GLA supplement for your patient, or would a less expensive choice like flax seed or sunflower seed oil be equally useful? Meridian Valley Laboratory, Inc. will provide you with EFA results upon which you can base your decisions with confidence.

Studies have shown that fatty acids play a diverse role in the body’s homeostasis. Fatty acids serve as sources of energy, precursors of many of the body’s hormones and structural components of nerve and cell membranes. The standard American diet is low in fatty acids found in whole grains, nuts, vegetables and cold water fish, but is very high in saturated fats from dairy and meats. Fatty acids are the preferred fats the body uses for these functions, although “bad” saturated fats can be used if they are present in the gut. This imbalance of the proper fatty acids contributes to many common degenerative diseases such as:

• Cardiovascular
• Hypertension
• Cancer
• PMS & Menstrual Disorders
• Diabetes Complications
• Autoimmune Disorders
• Arthritis

• Dermatitis
• Immune System Depression
• Neurodegenerative Disorders
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Celiac Disease
• Cystic Fibrosis

At Meridian Valley Laboratory, Inc., we offer both plasma EFA and Red Blood Cell (RBC) membrane EFA. Plasma EFA is used to assess fatty acid levels currently available in the blood stream in response to dietary factors. RBC membrane EFA is used to indicate long-term fatty acid balance in the tissues. These profiles will help to identify metabolic imbalances consistent with the progression of chronic conditions and will help you as a physician to make cost effective EFA therapy choices for your patients.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID (EFA) ANALYSIS

Saturated

• Palmitic Acid
• Stearic Acid

Polyunsaturated Omega-3 Family

• Alpha Linolenic (ALA)
• Eicosapentaenoic (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic (DHA)
• Total Omega-3 Metabolites

Monosaturated

• Oleic Acid

Calculated Ratios

• LA/AA + GLA + DHGLA(useful for atopic conditions)
• Omega-6 / Omega-3(useful for gallstone risk)
• Stearic / Oleic (RBC)useful for detecting the possibility of cancer)

Polyunsaturated Omega-6 Family

• Linolenic Acid (LA)
• Gamma Linolenic (GLA)
• Dihomogammalinolenic (DHGLA)
• Arachidonic Acid (AA)
• Adrenic Acid