Conversion of α-linolenic acid in humans is influenced by the absolute amounts of α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in the diet and not by their ratio
Open accessAbstract
Background Human in vivo data on dietary determinants of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3) metabolism are scarce.Objective We examined whether intakes of ALA or linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6) or their ratio influences ALA metabolism.Design During 4 wk, 29 subjects received a control diet (7% of energy from LA, 0.4% of energy from ALA, ALA-to-LA ratio = 1:19). For the next 6 wk, a control diet, a low-LA diet (3% of energy from LA, 0.4% of energy from ALA, ratio = 1:7), or a high-ALA diet (7% of energy from LA, 1.1% of energy from ALA, ratio = 1:7) was consumed. Ten days before the end of each dietary period, [U-13C]ALA was administered orally for 9 d. ALA oxidation was determined from breath. Conversion was estimated by using compartmental modeling of [13C]- and [12C]n-3 fatty acid concentrations in fasting plasma phospholipids.Results Compared with the control group, ALA incorporation into phospholipids increased by 3.6% in the low-LA group (P = 0.012) and decreased by 8.0% in the high-ALA group (P < 0.001). In absolute amounts, it increased by 34.3 mg (P = 0.020) in the low-LA group but hardly changed in the high-ALA group. Nearly all ALA from the plasma phospholipid pool was converted into eicosapentaenoic acid. Conversion of eicosapentaenoic acid into docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid hardly changed in the 3 groups and was <0.1% of dietary ALA. In absolute amounts, it was unchanged in the low-LA group, but increased from 0.7 to 1.9 mg (P = 0.001) in the high-ALA group. ALA oxidation was unchanged by the dietary interventions.Conclusion The amounts of ALA and LA in the diet, but not their ratio, determine ALA conversion.
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Estimates for the conversion of ALA into EPA range from 8% to 12%, while its conversion into DHA may be less than 1%.
“Estimates for the conversion of ALA into EPA range from 8% to 12%, while its conversion into DHA may be less than 1% [8].”
From Role of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human nutrition and health: Review of recent studies and recommendations (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
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- Authors
- Goyens, P. L., Spilker, M. E., Zock, P. L., Katan, M. B., & Mensink, R. P.
- Affiliations
- TUM Klinikum (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Goyens, Petra LL
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-07
- Volume
- 84
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 44-53
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1943200861
- Cited by
- 392
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 19.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (submittedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (P41EB001975)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Keywords
- alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, dietary fatty acid ratio, omega-3 fatty acid metabolism, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, plasma phospholipids, dietary intervention
- MeSH terms
- Breath Tests, Carbon Isotopes, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Oxidation-Reduction, Phospholipids, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid
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