OptimalHealthNutrition.com -- ALA clinical notes

ALA clinical considerations

Research News:§ Anti-inflammatory, modulation of gene transcription, and several other benefits: ALA clearly has anti-inflammatory benefits as consistently demonstrated in human studies. In a study of men with metabolic syndrome, ALA was shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits independent of its conversion to EPA or DHA.[1] The mechanism of action appears to be downregulation of NF-KappaB (the main “amplifier” for the expression of proinflammatory gene products[2]) rather than the direct modulation of eicosanoid biosynthesis. One study using flaxseed oil as a source of ALA to treat rheumatoid arthritis found no clinical or biochemical benefit (i.e., no change in Hgb, CRP, ESR)[3]; however, the poor results of this study may have been due to the inferior quality of the flaxseed oil product that was used which only supplied 32% ALA compared with the much higher concentration of 57% found in most products. Moderate intakes of ALA from flaxseed oil profoundly reduce production of proinflammatory prostaglandins (e.g., PG-E2, measured by urinary excretion) by 52% to 85% in humans.[4] This level of prostaglandin inhibition is greater than the 42% reduction induced by rofecoxib/Vioxx.[5] However, since the reduction in prostaglandin formation by ALA is more generalized (rather than specific for the Cox-2 enzyme), the anti-inflammatory benefit occurs without adverse cardiovascular effects caused by Cox-2 inhibitors.

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[1] “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

[2] Tak PP, Firestein GS. NF-kappaB: a key role in inflammatory diseases. J Clin Invest. 2001 Jan;107(1):7-11

[3] “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

[4] Adam O, Wolfram G, Zollner N. Effect of alpha-linolenic acid in the human diet on linoleic acid metabolism and prostaglandin biosynthesis. J Lipid Res. 1986 Apr;27(4):421-6

[5] Van Hecken A, Schwartz JI, Depre M, De Lepeleire I, Dallob A, Tanaka W, Wynants K, Buntinx A, Arnout J, Wong PH, Ebel DL, Gertz BJ, De Schepper PJ. Comparative inhibitory activity of rofecoxib, meloxicam, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen on COX-2 versus COX-1 in healthy volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol. 2000 Oct;40(10):1109-20

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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