Alpha-linolenic acid

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found primarily in plant sources such as flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybeans, walnuts, and chia seeds. It is necessary for normal human growth and development and must be obtained through the diet or supplementation because the body cannot synthesize it. ALA serves as a precursor to longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), though conversion rates in humans are low[1][2][4]. Mechanistically, ALA may exert cardiovascular-protective effects by modulating blood lipid levels—reducing lipid synthesis while stimulating lipid metabolism—and by reducing inflammation through inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)[5][6]. It also has reported anti-cancer, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-osteoporotic properties[4]. Clinically it is used as a dietary supplement to support heart health and treat or prevent conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus type 2/renal disease complications from diabetes mellitus type 1/ulcerative colitis/Crohn's disease/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/migraine headache/skin cancer/depression/allergic/inflammatory skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema[8].

Other names

Omega-3 fatty acidOmega3 fatty acidOmega 3 fatty acidLinolenic acid