[rolls sleeves]
Right, as I'm pretty new to posting on this board, for full transparency I'll let you all know work for Savant - the UK importers of Udo's Choice.
Now, the next point is that you cannot directly compare Udo's Choice and Fish oils - there are fundamentally different in that Udo's provides the short chain omega 3's and 6's, LNA and LA, whilst fish oils provide the long chain omega 3 derivatives EPA and DHA. As the long chain derivatives cannot be converted back to the short chain parent EFAs, and there is little/no omega 6 in fish oil, they are clearly quite different to start with.
The effects are different too. LA and LNA are used intracellularly for structural roles in organelles, etc, and in membranes. EPA and DHA are predominantly used in membranes of nervous tissues. LA and LNA when use together can produce all 3 series of eicosanoids/prostaglandins following conversion. EPA/DHA can only contribute to series 3. Series 3 prostaglandins primary function is to prevent the release of series 2 prostaglandins from AA, which is why they have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, series 1 prostaglandins that come from DGLA, which requires LA or GLA in the diet, have many more roles in that field. The on-conversion of AA to series 2 prostaglandins is blocked/slowed by both series 1 and 3 prostaglandins - by preventing it's release from membranes.
So fish oils stop AA release and series 2 prostaglandin formation by promoting series 3 prostaglandin formation, whilst seed oils stop AA release/series 2 prostaglandin formation, and promote series 1 and 3 prostaglandin formation.
Conversion to lcPUFAS is an ugly stick that is waved around happily by anyone who wants to disprove the usefullness of seed oils. Conversion of LNA is in the region of 5-10% for EPA and 2-5% to DHA - more in women. Every paper I've seen conversion rates being calculated in are using a typical damaged omega 6 heavy diet (e.g. adding in canola oil/margarine/etc) - with ratios around 10:1 omega 6:3 often being used. As the short chain fatty acids all use the same enzymes for conversion, it's accepted that if you have a lot more of one, the other isn't going to have a great time of getting converted. If you pull the ratio of omega 6:3 closer to 1:1, then more LNA will get converted to the lcPUFAs - assuming that is the be all and end all. This is dependant on issues like availbility of co-factors such biotin, b vits, mins, etc; the issue of damaged fats blocking delta 4/5/6 desaturase; other factors such as alcohol; and then people with specific enzymatic blocks ~ 2% of the population.
Amounts-wise, well, some of the levels of fish oil intake I've been hearing of late are vast, and well above what the manufacturers say you need to use to get the benefit. Working with normal levels, a reccommendation of 15ml/25kg Udo's will cover long chain conversion using the lowest/most bleak figures available. EPA and DHA both block the conversion of LNA through to themselves in a negative feedback loop. If your body craved endless amounts of the latter, why would it have mechanisms in place to prevent the over production of it?
The concern over what happens to the ratios in a diet generally tend to not be based on actually working it out. e.g prior to adding Udos, Mr X has 1g of omega 3 and 20g of omega 6 in his normal diet. He then adds in 60ml of Udos. He now has 33g of omega 3 and 35g of omega 6 in his diet. i.e. it has shifted to being closer to 1:1. Following your example, sticking in 12g of fish oil, he would now have 13g (probably less, depends on the oils) of omega 3 and 20g of omega 6 - a ratio of 1:1.5.
The idea is that Udo's can be used as your only added fat source if that's what you chose, without running the risk of over-doing omega 3.
Regarding NKO Krill oil - it's good stuff. I actually use it myself. Before anyone jumps on me shouting hypocrite, there's 2 reasons:
1. I've always had an issue with dry skin/eczema, not horrific, but annoying at points. When I first started on Udo's it cleared all of it up, apart from 1 small patch on my left forearm that persisted. When we got some NKO in, I tried it and it cleared it up. This is an indication of a degree of blocking of conversion - whether it was diet/alcohol/genetic, dunno, as my diet and drinking have changed greatly over the last few years, and indeed the NKO may no longer be doing squat for my skin.
2. I've also got ankylosing spondylitis. The astaxanthin in NKO is a bloody brilliant anti-inflammatory, and great for people with arthritic conditions. It's also why I eat a lot of prawns/shrimp as they have it in them too (it's the reason they turn pink when cooked, as it unbinds from proteins). If it was possible, i'd probably eat flamingos too...
Anyways, the crux is, seed oils as a base so that you get the whole spread of benefits, and also energy, etc, and fish oils used as appropriate.
