Effect of α linolenic acid on cardiovascular risk markers: a systematic review
Open accessAbstract
Objective: To determine whether dietary supplementation with α linolenic acid (ALA) can modify established and emerging cardiovascular risk markers. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials identified by a search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), and the meta Register of Controlled Trials (m RCT). Patients: All human studies were reviewed. Main outcome measures: Changes in concentrations of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, fibrinogen, and fasting plasma glucose, and changes in body mass index, weight, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results: 14 studies with minimum treatment duration of four weeks were reviewed. ALA had a significant effect on three of the 32 outcomes examined in these studies. Concentrations of fibrinogen (0.17 μmol/l, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.30 to −0.04, p = 0.01) and fasting plasma glucose (0.20 mmol/l, 95% CI −0.30 to −0.10, p < 0.01) were reduced. There was a small but clinically unimportant decrease in HDL (0.01 mmol/l, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.00, p < 0.01). Treatment with ALA did not significantly modify total cholesterol, triglycerides, weight, body mass index, LDL, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, VLDL, and apolipoprotein B. Conclusions: Although ALA supplementation may cause small decreases in fibrinogen concentrations and fasting plasma glucose, most cardiovascular risk markers do not appear to be affected. Further trials are needed, but dietary supplementation with ALA to reduce cardiovascular disease cannot be recommended.
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Alpha-linolenic acid has not been shown to substantially reduce triglycerides and is not indicated for treating hypertriglyceridemia.
“α-Linolenic acid, an 18-carbon plant-derived n-3 FA, has not been shown to reduce triglycerides substantially and is not indicated for the treatment of HTG.65,66”
From Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Management of Hypertriglyceridemia: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association (2019) · cites this paper as [66]
The Abstract and “Cholesterol and triglycerides” section report no significant triglyceride reduction with ALA, supporting the first part of the claim. The paper does not address whether ALA is indicated for treating hypertriglyceridemia; its recommendation concerns supplementation to reduce cardiovascular disease. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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- Authors
- Wendland, E., Farmer, A., Glasziou, P., & Neil, A.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Farmer, A
- Venue
- Heart
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2005-05-12
- Volume
- 92
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 166-169
- ISSN
- 1355-6037 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-201X
- PMC
- PMC1860766
- OpenAlex
- W1976886927
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 1.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Heart (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
- Keywords
- alpha-linolenic acid, dietary supplementation, cardiovascular risk markers, fibrinogen, fasting blood glucose, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, body mass index, omega-3 fatty acids
- MeSH terms
- Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Body Weight, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cholesterol, Fibrinogen, Humans, Risk Factors, Triglycerides, alpha-Linolenic Acid, Dietary Supplements
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