Crohn's disease is an inflammatory condition that affects commonly small and large intestine, although other parts of the digestive tract may be involved. Common symptoms include abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, fever and loss of appetite, according to Merck Manual. Diet and essential fatty acids may help decrease inflammation associated with Crohn's diease. Always talk to your doctor before making any dietary changes or taking new supplements.
About Flax Oil
The oil extracted from the seeds of flax, a plant medically known as Linum usitatissimum contains around 70 percent healthy polyunsaturated fats, omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. According to Flax Council of Canada, an important feature of flax oil is the high ratio of omega 3 alpha-linoleic acid to omega 6 linoleic acid. Same source indicates that 57 percent of flax oil is omega 3 and 16 percent is omega 6, and therefore this oil contains roughly 3.5 times more omega 3 than omega 6 fatty acids.
The Importance of a Healthy Ratio of Omega-3/Omega-6
Omega-3 and -6 are polyunsaturated fatty acids that can not be manufactured in the body, and therefore have to be obtained from the diet. They are both essential for your health, and also important is a healthy balance between these fatty acids. A healthy diet should include two to four times more omega-3 than omega-6 fatty acids, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Unfortunately, the typical North American diet contains 14 to 16 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids, and this ratio appears to be linked with the increase of inflammatory conditions in the United States. Because Crohn's disease is an inflammatory condition, research studies have evaluated the importance of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids in managing this condition.
Omega 3, 6 and Crohn's Disease
A study published in the September 2007 issue of "The American Journal of Gastroenterology" evaluated the link between Crohn's disease and dietary intake of omega fatty acids, fruits and vegetables. This case-controlled study involved 130 children and was conducted by researchers from University of Montreal. The authors found that children who had higher ratios of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids in their diet had significantly decreased risk for developing Crohn's disease. High intake of fruits, vegetables, fish and fiber was also protective against Crohn's disease.
Considerations
Consult a qualified health care professional to find out optimal dosage of flax oil that may help your condition. Keep in mind that flax oil does not replace and should not be used to replace and conventional drugs prescribed for Crohn's disease.
References
- Merck Manual: Crohn's Disease
- Flax Council of Canada: Flax-Nutrition
- Univeristy of Maryland Medical Center: Flax Oil
- "The American Journal of Gastroenterology" ; Imbalances in Dietary Consumption of Fatty Acids, Vegetables, and Fruits are Associated with Risk for Crohn's Disease in Children; DK.Ambre et al; September, 2007
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