Alpha Linolenic Acid

What is it?: Alpha-linolenic acid is the main type of omega-3 fatty acid found in plants. It is similar to the omega-3 fatty acids that are in fish oil which are: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). It is not a usable form of omega-3 and the body must convert it into EPA or DHA.


Most Likely:

1) Alpha linolenic acid is poorly converted into EPA (1) (2) (6)


2) Alpha linolenic acid is not measurable converted into DHA (1) (2) (6)





Maybe:
1) High levels of consumed linolenic acid (EPA/DHA) compared to ALA reduce the amount of ALA converted into EPA/DHA (2) (6)


2) ALA does not provide the same level of protection against disease compared to EPA/DHA (4) (5)




Theory:
1) Consumption of whole flax seed results in little ALA absorption; whereas ground flax seed results in high levels of absorption (3)

2) Consuming whole flax seed can lead to GI distress (3)



Studies that contributed:
1) Alpha-Linolenic Acid: Is It Essential to Cardiovascular Health?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2943064/?tool=pubmed

2) α-Linolenic acid supplementation and conversion to n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in humans
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0952327809000167

3) Bioavailability of Alpha-Linolenic Acid in Subjects after Ingestion of Three Different Forms of Flaxseed
http://www.jacn.org/content/27/2/214.full

4) n–3 Fatty acids from fish or fish-oil supplements, but not α-linolenic acid, benefit cardiovascular disease outcomes in primary- and secondary-prevention studies: a systematic review
http://www.ajcn.org/content/84/1/5.long

5) Dietary α-Linolenic Acid, EPA, and DHA Have Differential Effects on LDL Fatty Acid Composition but Similar Effects on Serum Lipid Profiles in Normolipidemic Humans
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/139/5/861.full

6) Decreasing Linoleic Acid with Constant α-Linolenic Acid in Dietary Fats Increases (n-3) Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Plasma Phospholipids in Healthy Men
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/137/4/945.long

Studies that didn't contribute (but still worth reading):
--Agonism with the omega-3 fatty acids a-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid mediates phosphorylation of both the short and long isoforms of the human GPR120 receptor

http://www.diabetesaction.org/site/DocServer/Moniri.pdf?docID=822

--The use of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and rehabilitation in the treatment of back pain: effect on health-related quality of life

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19887043

--Hypertension induced by ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency is alleviated by α-linolenic acid regardless of dietary source

http://www.nature.com/hr/journal/v33/n8/full/hr201084a.html

--An α-linolenic acid-rich formula reduces oxidative stress and inflammation by regulating NF-κB in rats with TNBS-induced colitis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20724486

--Alpha-linolenic acid supplementation and resistance training in older adults

http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/H08-136?journalCode=apnm

--Dietary chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) rich in alpha-linolenic acid improves adiposity and normalises hypertriacylglycerolaemia and insulin resistance in dyslipaemic rats

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18492301

--Prospective studies of dietary alpha-linolenic acid intake and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis

http://www.springerlink.com/content/8473470111631443/

--Subchronic Alpha-Linolenic Acid Treatment Enhances Brain Plasticity and Exerts an Antidepressant Effect: A Versatile Potential Therapy for Stroke

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v34/n12/full/npp200984a.html

--Differential effect of maternal diet supplementation with α-Linolenic adcid or n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on glial cell phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine fatty acid profile in neonate rat brains

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2819247/?tool=pubmed

--Dietary supplementation of alpha-linolenic acid in an enriched rapeseed oil diet protects from stroke
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20036742

--Bioavailability of α-linolenic acid from flaxseed diets as a function of the age of the subject
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v63/n9/abs/ejcn200941a.html

--High habitual dietary α-linolenic acid intake is associated with decreased plasma soluble interleukin-6 receptor concentrations in male twins
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2884325/?tool=pubmed

--Dietary intake and status of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in a population of fish-eating and non-fish-eating meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans and the precursor-product ratio of α-linolenic acid to long-chain n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: results from the EPIC-Norfolk cohort
http://www.ajcn.org/content/92/5/1040.abstract