Hi Nanna,
Thanks for the link to that article on AA and EPA/DHA, it is very informative. I have known for years that omega-3 acids were beneficial for my emotional state. As mentioned, I do not have cognitive symptoms, but have a lot of emotional symptoms. In fact, I use to have a high anxiety level and unstable emotions, even out of POIS, and that would skyrocket in POIS. So, even before developing my pre-pack, I was using omega-3 to reduce anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and all of my emotional symptoms. In the article you suggested, there is an interesting note about taking some gamma linolenic acid, or GLA, when you take DHA. I was glad to see that hemp, which I add to my smoothies and cereals in the form of hemp heart, and spirulina, that I take on its own ( it ruins the taste of my smoothies!), are good sources of GLA.
LOL, about the 2010 study on cortisol, in order to lower cortisol and stress, I will have to hang out more with my tennis buddies and stay away from my spouse....
Unless I compensate with meditation, yoga and tai chi, like I have been doing
I totally agree with you, that inhibitors are more effective if taken before the triggering event occurs. It was the premise of my pre-pack strategy, and leads to good results for me. Inhibitors acting downstream ( cox, lox, cyp450), as you noticed, can still show high efficiency if taken after release but before the symptoms appears. In that since NSAIDS like celecoxib blocking COX2 , and a good 5-LOX inhibitor like boswellia could be a good "last minute combo" after release, before symptoms appear.
About AA, it seems that the presence of lipid peroxidation products seriously aggravate the negative effects of AA (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachidonic_acid#Dietary_arachidonic_acid_and_inflammation ). This could be another good reason for the various antioxidants of my pre-pack to help lower my POIS symptoms severity. For example, my "friend" curcumin is good at inhibiting lipid peroxidation (
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15483898_Curcuminoids_as_Potent_Inhibitors_of_Lipid_Peroxidation ), as well as the EGCG found in my green tea extract (
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20852116 ). And I suppose that my other antioxidants sources, like rosemary essential oil, must have that property, too. All together, they do a good teamwork, though.
I would like to add, for the benefit of all members, that it is never too late to take substances and products that helps reducing inflammation and the POIS inflammatory cascade. Granted, they are more efficient when taken before, but taking them late will be better than not taking them.
I wish you good luck for your research fellowship application, Nanni. I look forward to continue this enriching discussion with yourself and the other members.
In the meantime, I may do some tests and add some vitamin B1 to my pre-pack or on a "as needed" basis. Your explanation about B1 being a downregulator of the h1H receptors through PKC inhibition was very interesting, and seems to make it a good addition to my overall approach. In addition, it helps reduce histamine levels, which is good in my case, and in POIS cases in general, I think. I have tolerance issues with methylfolate, but not with methylcobalamine, neither with thiamine, so it's not complicated for me to add some B1.
