ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (ARDS):
Borage Oil Saves Lives!

By Artur Klimaszewski, MD
Source: Bioriginal Publishing
Date Published: December 1999

Drs. Michael J. Murray of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and James Gadek of Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus have recently reported that Borage Oil, in a mixture with Fish Oil and antioxidants, can significantly improve the condition or even the chances of survival in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

- Reuters News, October 15 and November 29, 1999

ARDS is a medical emergency that leads to lung tissue injury and fluid build-up in the lungs. At least 150,000 cases are reported each year in the US. Head injury, shock, sepsis, smoke inhalation, and high altitude are just a few causes leading to the accumulation of white blood cells in lung capillary vessels and the development of glassy pink membranes that line the inside of lung alveoli. As a result of this process, oxygen has trouble reaching the blood; blood concentration of oxygen remains very low in spite of the high concentration of supplementary oxygen that is given to the patient. Although an artificial respirator is commonly used in the treatment, the usual mortality rate from ARDS has been reported to be as high as 60%.

Bioriginal applauds the efforts of the teams led by Drs. Murray and Gadek and believes that further development of a nutritional approach to ARDS treatment may be a very efficient way to benefit ARDS patients. Borage Oil contains a high content of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) that is known to act as a substrate for the production of strong anti-inflammatory eicosanoids on a cellular level in the human body. Fish Oil, a rich source of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), may reduce the body's production of Arachidonic Acid (AA), which facilitates the production of strong pro-inflammatory metabolic components. GLA and EPA work together to reverse the lipid balance and reduce the extent of damage in the pulmonary tissue.

Bioriginal recognizes that more clinical studies must be performed to further evaluate the treatment, yet the approach taken by both teams has created much hope regarding the fate of ARDS patients.

Bioriginal sees an urgent need for further studies to estimate the value of Borage Oil in other selected pulmonary diseases since many pathomechanisms of ARDS are shared by other conditions of the lungs such as emphysema, pneumonia, and cystic fibrosis. Borage Oil alone or in combination with other components, may show benefits in these and other pulmonary conditions.

Bioriginal Food & Science Corp., based in Saskatoon, Canada is the world's leader in the manufacturing of Essential Fatty Acid products. Bioriginal products include a variety of nutritional supplements that promote joint, mental, cardiovascular, urinary and metabolic health. Bioriginal's scientific team offers support and cooperation to leading researchers in the field of Essential Fatty Acids.

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