Category Archives: Alpha Linolenic Acid

Essential Fatty Acids: The Ratio is the Key

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The fatty acids α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) and linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) are essential in animals including humans, and therefore required in the diet. Deficiency of either fatty acid causes disease and death. Both fatty acids are converted … Continue reading →

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EPA and DHA: Regulators of Desaturase Expression

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Understanding genetic defects and their effects on metabolic pathways can be useful in the nutritional sciences. This is because diet can influence enzyme activity to a similar extent as genes. For example, Kilmer McCully identified homocysteine as a causative factor … Continue reading →

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Long Chain Fatty Acids: Mood Enhancers?

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Fish contains two important dietary n-3 long-chain fatty acids, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, C20:5 (n-3)) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA, C22:6 (n-3)). These fatty acids accumulate in plasma membranes where they may increase membrane fluidity, and can also influence cellular function through … Continue reading →

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Essential Knowledge: Fatty Acids

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Plants possess two enzymes, Δ12-desaturase and Δ15-desaturase, that allow the synthesis of linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) and α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)), respectively. The Δ12-desaturase enzyme adds a double bond to a molecule of oleic acid (OA, C18:1 (n-9)) … Continue reading →

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Alpha Linolenic Acid: Is it Beneficial to the Heart?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Robert Barrington

The essential fatty acid α-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is required for human health because it enters the metabolic pathway that synthesises hormones required to regulate cellular inflammation and immunity. Flaxseeds and walnuts are good sources of ALA but smaller … Continue reading →

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Alpha-Linolenic Acid: Metabolism

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is an essential fatty acid that is required for human health. The main dietary sources of ALA are plant material such as flaxseeds, hemp seeds, green leafy vegetables and walnuts, although other seeds and nuts … Continue reading →

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Flaxseeds: Problem Solved?

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Alpha linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) is an essential fatty acid (EFA) required to form a number of important short-lived anti-inflammatory compounds in humans. Theoretically, ALA can be elongated and desaturated to eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, C20:5 (n-3)) and docosahexanoic acid … Continue reading →

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Diet Quality and Disease Risk

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Growing evidence suggests that diet quality plays an important role in determining future disease risk. Lifestyle diseases associated with poor quality diet include cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. However, much of the research to date has focussed … Continue reading →

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Flax and Lipoprotein(a)

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a class of lipoprotein associated with an increased rick of cardiovascular disease because it may damage the endothelial linings of the arteries. Lipoprotein(a) is structurally similar to the low density lipoprotein particle, except that it contains an … Continue reading →

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Fish, Flax or Hemp?

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Evidence suggests that many people do not ingest the correct ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids, and as a result they develop chronic systemic inflammation that may cause disease and ill health. Current recommendation is to reduce dietary intakes … Continue reading →

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