Question

How can the n-3:n-6 ratio of the diet change?

Case Study: John is a 55-year-old, Caucasian male, 6’ 1’ tall, weighing 210 pounds. He is diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Recommendations for his condition include following an anti-inflammatory diet. You have been asked to work with John to modify his typical day’s intake according to principles of an anti-inflammatory meal pattern. John is married and shares shopping and cooking responsibilities with his wife. They both enjoy and eat a wide variety of foods.

Using the table below, make recommendations to John’s existing typical day’s intake. (Expand the table as needed)

• Make changes using recommendations from Mahan and Raymond (2016) Appendix 31 The anti-inflammatory diet.
• Make changes to improve the n-3:n-6 fatty acid ratio.

Current Typical Day				General Suggestions	Anti-inflammatory Typical Day
Meal	Food	Amount	Cooking		Meal	Food	Amount	Cooking
Mid day	Lunch meat and cheese sandwich	3 oz meat 1oz cheese 2 slices bread mayo	Made at home
	Potato Chips	1 small bag	Work vending machine
	Fruit	1 piece	raw
	Soft drink	12 oz	Work vending machine

• Briefly explain the changes you made to John’s typical day. Why were these changes made? _______

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Answer 1

John needs to consume more n3 fatty acids in the diet and less of n6 because more of n6:n3 ratio leads to oxidative damage which damage the cell membranes as a result there is inflammation in the joints whereas n3 acts as anti -inflammatory fatty acid by reducing the production of ecosanoids like prostaglandins and effect of n6 fatty acid is reduced. John can include flax seeds in his diet as flax seeds ratio of n3:n6 is 3:1. Flax seeds can be incoporated in the diet my adding flax seeds to any smoothie or yogurt during mid meal. Other options to improve the ratio are by incorpating nuts in diet such as walnuts,almonds. Chia seeds,mustard seeds,pumkin seeds are also a good option. 1-2 tsp of flaxseeds daily will show anti inflammatory effect.