The
Tsim Tsoum Concept means that humans evolved on a diet in which nature recommends to ingest
fatty acids in a balanced ratio (polyunsaturated(P) : saturated(S) =w-6 : w-3 = 1 : 1)as part of dietary
lipid pattern where
monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) is the major
fatty acid(P : M : S = 1 : 6 : 1) in the background of other dietary factors;
antioxidants,
vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as physical activity and low mental stress. Several hundred years ago, our diet included natural foods; fruits, vegetables, green vegetables, seeds, eggs and honey. Fish, and wild meat were also available to pre-agricultural humans which shaped modern human genetic nutritional requirement. Cereal grains (refined), and
vegetable oils that are rich in w-6
fatty acids are relatively recent addition to the human diet that represent dramatic departure from those foods to which we are adapted. Excess of
linoleic acid,
trans fatty acids (TFA), saturated and total fat as well as refined starches and
sugar are proinflammatory. Low dietary MUFA and
n-3 fatty acids and other long chain polyunsarurated
fatty acids (LCPUFA) are important in the pathogenesis of
metabolic syndrome. Increased sympathetic activity with greater secretion of
neurotransmitters in conjunction of underlying long chain PUFA deficiency, and excess of proinflammatory nutrients, may damage the neurons via proinflammatory
cytokines, in the ventromedial hypothalamus and
insulin receptors in the brain.Since, 30-50% of the
fatty acids in the brain are LCPUFA, especially
omega-3 fatty acids, which are incorporated in the cell membrane
phospholipids, it is possible that their supplementation may be protective.Blood
lipid composition does reflect one's health status: (a) circulating serum
lipoproteins and their ratio provide information on their atherogenicity to blood vessels and (b) circulating plasma
fatty acids, such as w-6/w-3
fatty acid ratio, give indication on proinflammatory status of blood vessels, cardiomyocytes, liver cells and neurones; (a) and (b) are phenotype-related and depend on genetic, environmental and developmental factors. As such, they appear as universal markers for
holistic health and these may be important in the pathogenesis of
cardiovascular diseases and
cancer, which is the main consideration of
Tsim Tsoum concept.