Inflammation is your body’s way of protecting itself from infection, injury, or other insults. Chemical signaling molecules called ‘eicosanoids’ are responsible for creating pain, heat, swelling, and redness. Eicosanoids are made from fatty acids, or dietary fats. We’ve all heard of fish oil and omega-3s being important when it comes to lowering inflammation. But why?

In today’s episode, we break down the inflammatory cascade, explain how fatty acids are involved, and we answer the question ‘What in the world is an eicosanoid!?’

Today on The Lab Report:

• 3:20 What are eicosanoids?
• 6:05 Fatty acids and the inflammatory cascade
• 9:10 Lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX)
• 10:00 The COX eicosanoids – prostanoids and thromboxane 
• 12:10 Leukotrienes, lipoxins, resolvins, and LOX
• 13:15 Aspirin, fish oil, and heart disease
• 16:30 Question of the Day
  • How should we measure fatty acids?

Additional Resources:

NutrEval

Essential & Metabolic Fatty Acids - Bloodspot

The omega-3 index as a risk factor for coronary heart disease

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