Past and Present Insights on Alpha-linolenic Acid and the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Family

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the parent essential fatty acid of the omega-3 family. This family includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which has been conserved in neural signaling systems in the cephalopods, fish, amphibian, reptiles, birds, mammals, primates, and humans. This extreme conservation, i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 2016-10, Vol.56 (14), p.2261-2267
Main Authors: Stark, Aliza H., Reifen, Ram, Crawford, Michael A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alpha-linolenic acid
alpha-Linolenic Acid - chemistry
alpha-Linolenic Acid - metabolism
Animals
brain
Diet
docosahexaenoic acid
Fatty acids
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - chemistry
Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism
Fish oils
Humans
Molecular Structure
Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Omega-3 fatty acids
Reptiles & amphibians
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Summary:Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the parent essential fatty acid of the omega-3 family. This family includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which has been conserved in neural signaling systems in the cephalopods, fish, amphibian, reptiles, birds, mammals, primates, and humans. This extreme conservation, in spite of wide genomic changes of over 500 million years, testifies to the uniqueness of this molecule in the brain and affirms the importance of omega-3 fatty acids. While DHA and its close precursor, eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), have received much attention by the research community, ALA, as the precursor of both, has been considered of little interest. There are many papers on ALA requirements in experimental animals. Unlike humans, rats and mice can readily convert ALA to EPA and DHA, so it is unclear whether the effect is solely due to the conversion products or to ALA itself. The intrinsic role of ALA has yet to be defined. This paper will discuss both recent and historical findings related to this distinctive group of fatty acids, and will highlight the physiological significance of the omega-3 family.
ISSN:1040-8398
1549-7852
DOI:10.1080/10408398.2013.828678