Linolenic acid

Linolenic acid is an 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid with three double bonds. The chemical formula for this molecule is CH3(CH2CH=CH)3CH2(CH2)7COOH.{{an|formula}} The isomer called α(alpha)-linolenic acid (n-3) (LNA), an Omega-3 fatty acid, is essential for all mammals. Particularly rich food sources are chia and flaxseed. A mutant strain of flax, Linola, has been developed in Australia which is low in linolenic acid and high in linoleic acid as compared to natural flax. Alpha-linolenic acid has been associated with reduced cardiovascular risk through reduced cardiac arrythmias and reduced carotid arteriosclerosis; however, epidemiology has also linked α-linolenic acid with rapidly progressing prostate cancer and macular degeneration.

Related Topics:
Carbon - Fatty acid - Omega-3 fatty acid - Chia - Flaxseed - Linola - Linoleic acid

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Research has also suggested a major neuroprotective effect of the n-3 PUFA LIN in in vivo models of both global ischemia and KA-induced epilepsy.

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Another isomer of linolenic acid is γ(gamma)-linolenic acid (n-6), an Omega-6 fatty acid which is the product of desaturation of Linoleic acid. This fatty acid is rare in food, though it is found in borage, blackcurrant, evening primrose and hemp seeds. It is sometimes taken as an oil supplement because its elongation product, di-homo-γ-linolenic acid, is an important constituent of cell membrane phospholipids in its role as precursor to the series-1 eicosonoids.

Related Topics:
Omega-6 fatty acid - Linoleic acid - Borage - Blackcurrant - Evening primrose - Hemp seeds

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The names α-linolenic acid (n-3) and γ-linolenic acid (n-6) are trivial names for all-cis-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid and all-cis-octadeca-6,9,12-trienoic acid, (18:3 n-6), respectively.{{an|IUPACname}}

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