What is alpha-linolenic acid?

first discovered in 1942, alpha-linolenic acid (lina) naturally occurs in the seed oils of chia, flax, rape, shiso, hemp and sea buckthorn. It must not be confused with alpha-lipoic acid, sulfoorganic compound also used in alternative medicine, alpha-linolenic acid is a member of the nutrient class known as omega-3 essential fatty acids. Although research conducted at the beginning of 2000 suggests that increasing the dietary levels of alpha-linolenic acid can reduce the risk of ischemia, epilepsy and cardiovascular disease, the body's ability to convert flax into other essential acids is compared to omega-3 oily acids derived from fish.

Structurally, the molecule of alpha-linolenic acid 18 carbon carboxyl with three double bonds, which makes it a polyunsaturated chain of fatty acids. Since polyunsaturated oils have significantly shorter durability than saturated fats, manufacturers who want to use oils thaté contain the NLA in their products often decide to convert them to trans-tuks. Soy oil, which contains up to eight percent of the NLA naturally, is often partially hydrogenated. The process of hydrogening this omega-3 fatty acid removes all the health benefits it could have provided and can actually cause fat to become harmful. Given the growing awareness of the negative impact of trans-fats on human health, attempts to develop new soluos, which have a low content of alpha linolenic acid.

Getting the therapeutically active NLA level directly from seeds and seed oils is difficult. Even the seeds of chia and kiwi fruit plants, the richest natural sources of alpha-linolenic acid, also contain significant number of common omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids compete with the NLA in places inside the intestine and disrupt its absorption.

While some research inAlthough the ThPři small to medium NLA in the diet can convey cardioprotective advantages, other studies suggest that alpha-linolenic acid extracts may be needed to achieve a sufficiently large diet. While the most positive studies of the use of alpha-linolenic acid found only modest benefits, some of them found no benefit at all. However, omega-3 fatty acids are considered necessary nutrients because the body cannot synthesize them and must be inferred from food sources instead. Deficiencies in Omega-3 fatty acids can cause mood swings, depression, dry skin, fatigue and cognitive deficiencies and also increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.