This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I read recently a research that says omega-3 from fresh fish are by far more effective than omega-3 from supplements so it's necessary to eat at least 3-4 times/week fish even if you take daily omega-3 caps.

omg i had no idea robins were like that LOL! i shot a robin once by accident, it DOES feel awful. i was a kid and had been set to defend the cherry tree. in suburbia

Stearic acid is a naturally occurring fat that is present in all of our bodies. Some nutritional supplement manufacturers, however, would like you to believe that stearic acid (or its salt, magnesium stearate) is a bad thing. They've focused on one small ingredient and created widespread misconceptions about its use and its effects on health. Most formulations—whether in tablet or capsule form—require some added ingredients to assist in manufacture. A manufacturer of high quality nutritional supplements will ensure that excipients, binders, or dilutents are derived from natural sources.

Stearic acid, for example, may be of a vegetable origin. Stearic acid enables providers to manufacture tablets of uniform size, weight, texture, and shape that help to ensure a pure, safe, and effective product. Both the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) recommend the use of stearic acid and magnesium stearate in the production of high quality nutritional and pharmaceutical products. According to Vitkova and Chalabala, "Magnesium stearate is the lubricant of choice in the production, found in up to 80% of all industrially produced tablets."1 It is important to note that the levels of stearic acid found in Metagenics products are very low—much lower than the levels used in human studies surrounding stearic acid.

Your question regarding magnesium stearate and immune dysfunction comes up a lot. While stearic acid is not considered a "beneficial" fat (such as those found in cold-water fish and flaxseed), it has not been shown to contribute to immune dysfunction in humans. In fact, most research documents just the opposite effect:

1. Stearic acid is a normal constituent of the body and immune system, including lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and red blood cells.
"Lecithin of leukemic lymphocytes contained more palmitinic acid and oleic acid and a lower level of stearic acid than the same fraction in normal lymphocytes."

Bleiber R, Kunze D, Reichmann G, et al. Leukocyte lipids in mature cell leukemia. Acta Haematol 1976;55(2):81-88.

"The fatty acid compositions of 1,2-diacylglycerol and polyphosphoinositides have been determined in human erythrocyte membranes [red blood cells]…it appears that these plasma-membrane polyphosphoinositides and their derived diacylglycerols are rich in stearic acid and arachidonic acid."

Allan D, Cockcroft S. The fatty acid composition of 1,2-diacylglycerol and polyphosphoinositides from human erythrocyte membranes. Biochem J 1983;213(2):555-57.

2. Stearic acid seems to activate components of the immune system (i.e., neutrophils) instead of suppress it.

"…the polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidonic acid, the triglycerides tricaproin, tricaprylin, and trilaurin as well as the fatty acids lauric acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and arachidic acid all induced oxygen radical production in neutrophils…"

Wanten GJ, Janssen FP, Naber AH. Saturated triglycerides and fatty acids activate neutrophils depending on carbon chain-length. Eur J Clin Invest 2002;32(4):285-89.

Vitkova M, Chalabala M. The use of some hydrophobic substances in tablet technology. Acta Pharm Hung 1998;68(6):336-44.