Look at DHA, a n-3-HUFA which is not consumend during the initialNo, we are both talking about n-3 consumption, as well as (particularly, in fact) the consumption of both n-3 and n-6 HUFA. Dietary consumption affects the content of our membranes. Read the part that I put in bold above. I'm saying that people shouldn't drink large quantities of fish oil, or flax oil, (or linoleic acid), as though it had no downside risk.We are talking about different things."Excess" as I describe it above refers to the absolute quantity of n-3 consumed. A low ratio of n-6 to n-3 is good, but it's better to obtain a low ratio by reducing n-6 than by increasing the oxidation-prone n-3.
Here is a good treatment of the relationship between membrane HUFA content and maximum lifespan. Note that I am absolutely not arguing for getting less n-3 than needed to obtain a low n-6/n-3 ratio. I'm arguing that it's better to reduce the need for n-3 by consuming less n-6. We still need a low ratio. Dietary consumption doesn't have a large effect on membrane composition, but still, I'd rather not push it in the wrong direction.
You mean HUFAs in cell membranes or in the brain which
are prone to peroxidation.
I mean HUFA intake trough nutrition. The advantage of these
HUFAs is their metabolism that consumes the same enzymes
as arachidonic acid and prevents the building of damaging
cytokines. No matter what composition cell membranes have.
metabolic pathway (EPA disappears by being transformed to DPA an
then to DHA). It is necessary for cell membranes of the eye and the
brain to incorporate DHA. Without DHA they cannot work properly.
I cannot see any problem with consuming this extremely important
n-3-FA because it is needed not only in brain and eye but also to
combat these extremely negative effects of AA.
You can also mention a third advantage of n-3s: to reduce harmful
cytokines as IL-1 and TNF-alpha that are responsible for a lot of
diseases.
I only see the advantage of n-3s. Of course, you need also n-6. If
you balance both at say 4:1 everything is OK regardless the
quantity you choose - according to your body weight.