Bottomline: Important study shows that modern farming practices, in this case with farmed fish, especially tilapia worsen it’s omega-6 fat and omega-3 fat profile, by increasing arachidonic acid, the most potent omega-6 fat.                                                                             J Am Diet. Assoc July 2008 (108):1178-1185.

Summary:  Fatty acid composition of 30 samples of fish was evaluated, with  particular scrutiny on the four most commonly consumed farmed fish, Atlantic salmon, trout, tilapia, and catfish.  Trout and Atlantic salmon contained relatively high amounts of EPA and DHA with low omega-6:omega-3 fat ratios. In contrast, tilapia (the fastest growing and most widely farmed fish) and catfish had much lower concentrations of omega-3 fats, with very high ratios of arachidonic acid to omega-3 fats.

Study Quote:"...farmed tilapia and catfish have low levels n-3 fatty acids along with levels of arachidonic acid so high they can be considered detrimental"

Commentary: Clearly, not all fish are created equal, especially when it comes to aqua-farming. The fat content and fatty acid profile of fish is determined by the diet fed to the fish (just like humans!)  A particularly important issue here is the type of omega-6 fat, arachidonic acid, that is increased with farmed tilapia. 

Arachidonic acid is the most potent and problematic of the omega-6 fats and is found in animal products, including fish.  It is much more potent than the plant omega-6 fat, linoleic acid, found in vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, cottonseed oil, and corn oil.  Arachidonic acid is the parent to some of the most potent inflammatory compounds, for which medicines are prescribed and/or taken over the counter.  For example:

Aspirin—blocks arachidonic acid from making inflammatory eicosanoids, which cause pain, fever, swelling and cramping.  Also, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as naproxen and ibuprofen help block the effects of arachidonic acid. (Cleland et al)

COX-2 inhibitors (such as Vioxx and Celebrex), block the COX-2 enzyme, which turn arachidonic acid into the compounds responsible for pain, inflammation and swelling. (Cleland et al)

Singulair (montelukast) is leukotriene inhibitor that prevents arachidonic acid from making the powerful asthma-triggering compound.

Mood-Mania Stabilizers (lithium, valproate and carbamazepine), work by slowing down the effects of arachidonic acid in the brain. (Lee et al).

Statins--prevent arachidonic acid release from the LDL-cholesterol.  Arachidonic acid increases blood clots, arrhythmias and stiffening of the arteries. (Kim et al).

Lee et al.Antimanic therapies target brain arachidonic acid signaling: Lessons learned about the regulation of brain fatty acid metabolism.Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids(77) Nov-Dec 2007:239-246.

Permalink: omega-6-omega-3-balance.omegaoptimize.com/2008/09/23/whats-the-big-deal-with-tilapia--arachidonic-acidthe-potent-omega6-fat.aspx