Lipid messengers
Prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes
Also searched as Prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes.
The Mechanism of the entire omega-3 Category, and it is competitive, not additive. EPA and arachidonic acid use the same enzymes, and the products differ in potency — so omega-3 works by displacing omega-6 from the enzyme, not by adding an anti-inflammatory of its own. That is why the ratio matters more than the dose, and why effects take months: membrane composition has to change first. This is also where NSAIDs act, on the cox step.
In depth
Prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes made from 20-carbon fatty acids.
What drives it
Inflammatory fat substrate increases it.
The 20-carbon substrate for cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
Omega-3 status reduces it.
Competitive, not additive - EPA and arachidonic acid use the same enzymes and the products differ in potency, so omega-3 works by displacing omega-6 from the enzyme rather than adding an anti-inflammatory of its own. That is why the ratio matters more than the dose and why effects take months: membrane composition has to change first. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
What it drives
It increases Calms body-wide inflammation.
Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are principal mediators of the inflammatory response. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
It reduces Joint comfort.
The mechanism behind the omega-3 osteoarthritis pain signal. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
It reduces Clot breakdown.
Thromboxane A2 drives platelet aggregation - the aspirin target. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
It increases Eases allergy load.
Cysteinyl leukotrienes are bronchoconstrictors - the montelukast target. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
It reduces Blood pressure.
Renal and vascular prostaglandins participate in pressure regulation. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
It reduces Digestion.
Gastroprotective prostaglandins are why NSAIDs damage the stomach - the same enzyme serves protection and inflammation. Carried by the intermediary-metabolism, micronutrient and clinical reviews. doi 10.3390/nu18132141 · PMC9967593
It increases Neurovascular calm.
Nine of twelve migraine patients (75%) experienced migraine-like attacks after PGE2 infusion compared with none after placebo (P=0.004). PGE2 and PGI2 both triggered migraine-like attacks with dilatation of intra- and extra-cerebral arteries. doi 10.1177/0333102412451360 · PMID 19614689 · PMC9829921
It increases Trigeminal nerve pathway.
Prostaglandins were found in smooth muscle of cranial arteries and in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis; PGI2 sensitizes meningeal nociceptors. doi 10.1177/03331024251355944 · PMC5567577
It increases Reduces clotting.
NBK539817 — The thromboxane axis - what aspirin acts on. Retrieved from the safflower work measuring the thromboxane arm alongside 'platelet aggregation (p<0.01); APTT prolonged', and from the cocoa Circulation trial. `eicosanoid` is a class node that also carries prostacyclin, which opposes aggregation - the edge is drawn on the net aggregatory direction. On this blend cocoa was null on the arachidonic-acid route, so the class is not uniformly addressed by the formula.
Blends that modulate it
Each blend page names this pathway and carries the study behind its claim.
See it on the map
Open the causal map to follow this pathway upstream and downstream, arrow by arrow, each with its study.