α-linolenic acid metabolism in adult humans: the effects of gender and age on conversation to longer chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
α-linolenic acid metabolism in adult humans: the effects of gender and age on conversation to longer chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
This review summarises and evaluates current knowledge of α-linolenic acid (LNA) metabolism in adult humans. The principal biological role of LNA appears to be as a precursor for the synthesis of longer-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Stable isotope tracer studies indicate that conversion of LNA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) occurs but is limited in men and that further transformation to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is very low. A lower proportion of LNA is used for -oxidation in women compared with men, while the fractional conversion to the longer-chain n-3 PUFA is greater, possibly due to the regulatory effects of oestrogen. Increasing LNA intake for a period of weeks results in an increase in the proportion of EPA in plasma lipids, circulating cells and breast milk, but there is no increase in DHA, which may even decline in some pools at high LNA intakes. Overall, LNA appears to be a limited source of longer-chain n-3 PUFA in man, and so adequate intakes of preformed long-chain n-3 PUFA, in particular DHA, may be important for maintaining optimal tissue function. The capacity to up-regulate LNA transformation in women may be important for meeting the demands of the foetus and neonate for DHA.
n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, humans, ?-linolenic acid, gender, age
426-439
Burdge, Graham C.
09d60a07-8ca1-4351-9bf1-de6ffcfb2159
Calder, Philip C.
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6
2005
Burdge, Graham C.
09d60a07-8ca1-4351-9bf1-de6ffcfb2159
Calder, Philip C.
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6
Burdge, Graham C. and Calder, Philip C.
(2005)
α-linolenic acid metabolism in adult humans: the effects of gender and age on conversation to longer chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 107 (6), .
(doi:10.1002/ejlt.200501145).
Abstract
This review summarises and evaluates current knowledge of α-linolenic acid (LNA) metabolism in adult humans. The principal biological role of LNA appears to be as a precursor for the synthesis of longer-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Stable isotope tracer studies indicate that conversion of LNA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) occurs but is limited in men and that further transformation to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is very low. A lower proportion of LNA is used for -oxidation in women compared with men, while the fractional conversion to the longer-chain n-3 PUFA is greater, possibly due to the regulatory effects of oestrogen. Increasing LNA intake for a period of weeks results in an increase in the proportion of EPA in plasma lipids, circulating cells and breast milk, but there is no increase in DHA, which may even decline in some pools at high LNA intakes. Overall, LNA appears to be a limited source of longer-chain n-3 PUFA in man, and so adequate intakes of preformed long-chain n-3 PUFA, in particular DHA, may be important for maintaining optimal tissue function. The capacity to up-regulate LNA transformation in women may be important for meeting the demands of the foetus and neonate for DHA.
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Published date: 2005
Additional Information:
ISI:000230242900009
Keywords:
n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, humans, ?-linolenic acid, gender, age
Organisations:
Dev Origins of Health & Disease
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Local EPrints ID: 152653
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/152653
ISSN: 1438-7697
PURE UUID: 32690554-5349-4343-a894-70d4b0f613cd
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Date deposited: 30 Jun 2010 14:46
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:39
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