Eicosanoid
Main Entry: eiˇcoˇsaˇnoid
Pronunciation: - k -s - n id
Function: noun
: Any of a class of compounds (as the prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes) derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (as arachidonic acid) and involved in cellular activity
Eicosanoids are hormones that are derived from long-chain essential fatty acids. Such as Omega-3 fatty acids. They represent the first hormones developed by living organisms some 500 million years ago. They are also the most powerful hormones since they affect the synthesis of every other hormone in the body. In a sense, eicosanoids can be considered "super-hormones" capable of great health benefits ("good" eicosanoids) or great harm ("bad" eicosanoids) depending on which eicosanoid a cell produces. Unlike typical hormones that are produced by a particular gland, every cell in the body is capable of producing eicosanoids. In essence, humans have about 60 trillion eicosanoid glands, and the goal is to maintain an appropriate balance of the molecular building blocks of both "good" and "bad" eicosanoids in each cell.
|
"Good" Eicosanoids | "Bad Eicosanoids"
|
| Prevent blood clots caused by platelet aggregation | Promote blood clots caused by platelet aggregation
|
| Cause vasodilatation of blood vessels | Cause vasoconstriction of blood vessels
|
| Reduce Pain | Promote pain
|
| Decrease cell division | Promote cell division
|
| Enhance the immune system | Depress the immune system
|
| Improve brain function | Depress brain function |
Here are some examples of chronic diseases that can become of "bad eicosanoids":
- Alzheimer's
- Heart Attack
- Arthritis
- Hypertension
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Depression
- Chronic Pain
Too little of the bad eicosanoids can result in the inability for your blood to clot during a heart attack, and result in death. They may also stop clotting at the wrong time and cause the actual heart attack. Most inflammatory diseases rely on an equal balance between the good and the bad eicosanoids to maintain a healthy circulatory flow.
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