It is critical that we stick with evidence based medicine when making decisions about making dietary suggestions to patients. The literature does not point to arachidonic acid as the negative that the media portrays it as. It is all about balance when we are looking at essential fatty acids. If you would like to learn more about fatty acids I have a new website that will be up shortly NeuroLipidResearch.org where you may learn more about lipid metabolism. In the meantime you can go read about the correct balance in essential fatty acids in this short document
If you would like to know what a patient’s fatty acid status is you can test at the gold standard laboratory at Johns Hopkins through BodyBio with a red cell lipid test. With this 9 hour analysis you will be able to view 4 to 6 months of your patients’ metabolism regarding fatty acid status(total lipids, very long chain fatty acids DMAs – myelin markers, EFAs, trans FA, Saturated FA) so that the fatty acids can be accurately balanced.
