Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Volume 80, Issue 2 , Pages 85-91, February 2009

α-Linolenic acid supplementation and conversion to n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in humans☆

  • J. Thomas Brenna

      Affiliations

    • Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Savage Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Norman Salem Jr.

      Affiliations

    • Martek Biosciences Inc., 6480 Dobbin Road, Columbia, MD 21045, USA
    • ,
  • Andrew J. Sinclair

      Affiliations

    • Deakin University, School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences & Metabolic Research Unit, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia
    • ,
  • Stephen C. Cunnane

      Affiliations

    • Research Center on Aging, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
    • ,
  • for the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids, ISSFAL

Received 15 January 2009; accepted 15 January 2009. published online 25 August 2009.

Abstract 

Blood levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are considered biomarkers of status. Alpha-linolenic acid, ALA, the plant omega-3, is the dietary precursor for the long-chain omega-3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Studies in normal healthy adults consuming western diets, which are rich in linoleic acid (LA), show that supplemental ALA raises EPA and DPA status in the blood and in breast milk. However, ALA or EPA dietary supplements have little effect on blood or breast milk DHA levels, whereas consumption of preformed DHA is effective in raising blood DHA levels. Addition of ALA to the diets of formula-fed infants does raise DHA, but no level of ALA tested raises DHA to levels achievable with preformed DHA at intakes similar to typical human milk DHA supply. The DHA status of infants and adults consuming preformed DHA in their diets is, on average, greater than that of people who do not consume DHA. With no other changes in diet, improvement of blood DHA status can be achieved with dietary supplements of preformed DHA, but not with supplementation of ALA, EPA, or other precursors.

Keywords: ISSFAL Statement, Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, Human PUFA nutrition

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☆ A statement on PUFA nutrition developed and edited based on input from ISSFAL members and accepted by vote of the ISSFAL Board of Directors.

PII: S0952-3278(09)00016-7

doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2009.01.004

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Volume 80, Issue 2 , Pages 85-91, February 2009

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