Balance Plus

 Balance Plus, provided by Douglas Laboratories, is a combination of nutritionally important, synergistically acting fatty acids: the omega-3 fatty acids from cold water marine fish (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA; and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), the omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) from borage seed oil, and the omega-9 oleic acid from olive oil.

Balance Plus may be a useful dietary supplement for those who wish to increase their intake of nutritionally important fatty acids.

Typical diets in developed countries deliver large amounts of saturated fatty acids and the polyunsaturated omega-6 linoleic and arachidonic acids, but often not enough of the omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids. Similar fatty acid imbalances can be the result of consuming very low fat diets.

Diets high in linoleic acid (omega-6) and low in omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to promote the formation of pro-inflammatory immune mediators, the 2-series prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes, whereas diets high in omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil, flax seed oil) enhance the formation of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins of the 1 and 3 series.

The omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid (GLA from borage seed oil) is thought to downregulate the pro-inflammatory actions of excessive dietary linoleic acid. GLA and the omega-3 fatty acids appear to act synergistically in balancing normal immune function. Thus, a balanced dietary intake of all of these fatty acids appears to be necessary to maintain a normal immune response during inflammation.

The omega-3 fatty acids also have important functions for visual acuity and possibly in maintaining normal blood lipoprotein levels. Balance Plus serves as a pure, natural source of nutritionally beneficial fatty acids that are often hard to obtain from the diet. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) from fish oil, the synergistic GLA from borage seed oil, and omega-9 oleic acid from olive oil, Balance Plus helps restore balanced fatty acid nutrition. The formula also provides those nutrients that are needed to properly metabolize these fatty acids: niacin, zinc, and vitamins B6, C and E.