Moo Omega 3?

By 13. May 2015Blog, Health, Taste

Definitely one for those meat loving non fish eaters out there. Chinese scientists have developed cows that produce omega 3 fatty acids, so you could get your weekly recommended amount from beef instead of fish (well, if GM food is allowed in your region).

Published in the Journal Biotechnology letters, the scientists took a gene from a nematode, called C-elegans that is able to convert omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids. They found that the omega 6 to omega 3 ratio was significantly reduced in the transgenic positive calves. In one individual by over 80%.

We have blogged about the difference between omega 3 and 6 a number of times over the years. Basically, the modern western diet has too much omega 6 which has been linked to an increased chance of developing heart disease (Omega 3 good, Omega 6 not), which is the opposite effect of omega 3.

As they are both brought into our bodies using the same mechanism, too higher ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 will mean that your body not only takes up more omega 6 but actually less omega 3, or so the theory goes.

The paper also mentions that pigs have already been produced with the same inserted gene. I think I will just stick to my salmon and chia seeds for now…

Click here to read more.