OptimalHealthNutrition.com -- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from fish oil promotes health, anti-inflammation, and improved mental wellbeing

ALA

Research News: · Alpha-linolenic acid, linolenic acid, ALA, α-LNA, ALNA, 18:3n3

o Essential fatty acid: ALA is the parent fatty acid of the omega-3 class; it is the “first in line.”

o Sources include flax seed oil (57% ALA) and canola (rape seed) oil (9% ALA), soy oil, breast milk, English/black walnuts, soybeans, pine nuts, green vegetables, and beans.

o ALA may theoretically be converted to EPA and DHA but this should not be expected to occur sufficiently in all patients at all times due to interindividual variations in enzyme activity and inadequate nutritional/cofactor status. To attain a measurable increase in EPA from ALA supplementation, approximately eleven-times (11x) the amount of ALA must be consumed to achieve a proportional response to that which can be achieved with direct supplementation of EPA.[1] No increase in DHA has been observed in humans after supplementation of ALA; in fact, supplementation with flax seed oil has actually been shown to reduce DHA levels in humans.[2],[3]

o Lipid-lowering effects are not seen with ALA supplementation and are only attained with the use of EPA and DHA; however ALA can reduce blood pressure.[4]

o ALA has potent anti-inflammatory benefits independent of its conversion to EPA or DHA.[5] The mechanism of action appears to be downregulation of NF-KappaB rather than the direct modulation of eicosanoid biosynthesis. One study using flax oil as a source of ALA to treat rheumatoid arthritis found no clinical or biochemical benefit (i.e., no change in Hgb, CRP, ESR).[6]

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[1] "Indu and Ghafoorunissa showed that while keeping the amount of dietary LA constant, 3.7 g ALA appears to have biological effects similar to those of 0.3 g long-chain n-3 PUFA with conversion of 11 g ALA to 1 g long-chain n-3 PUFA." Simopoulos AP. Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Sep;70(3 Suppl):560S-569S

[2] Saldeen T. Health Effects of Fish Oil with a Focus on Natural, Stable, Fish Oil. Buxton Road, New Mills, High Peak: Nutri Ltd. [Date unknown] page 33

[3] “Linear relationships were found between dietary alpha-LA and EPA in plasma fractions and in cellular phospholipids. … There was an inverse relationship between dietary alpha-LA and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in the phospholipids of plasma, neutrophils, mononuclear cells, and platelets.” Mantzioris E, James MJ, Gibson RA, Cleland LG. Differences exist in the relationships between dietary linoleic and alpha-linolenic acids and their respective long-chain metabolites. Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Feb;61(2):320-4

[4] Simopoulos AP. Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Sep;70(3 Suppl):560S-569S

[5] “CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation with ALA for 3 months decreases significantly CRP, SAA and IL-6 levels in dyslipidaemic patients. This anti-inflammatory effect may provide a possible additional mechanism for the beneficial effect of plant n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.” Rallidis LS, Paschos G, Liakos GK, Velissaridou AH, Anastasiadis G, Zampelas A. Dietary alpha-linolenic acid decreases C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and interleukin-6 in dyslipidaemic patients. Atherosclerosis. 2003 Apr;167(2):237-42

[6] “Thus, 3-month's supplementation with alpha-LNA did not prove to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis.” Nordstrom DC, Honkanen VE, Nasu Y, Antila E, Friman C, Konttinen YT. Alpha-linolenic acid in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized study: flaxseed vs. safflower seed. Rheumatol Int. 1995;14(6):231-4

Dr Vasquez's Comments: This is an excerpt from my textbook "Chiropractic and Naturopathic Mastery of Common Clinical Disorders" which is available from OptimalHealthResearch.com (website with clinical information designed for doctors) and also from OptimalHealthNutrition.com in our selection of books.

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