From NuGOwiki
The NuGOwiki Metabolite Database is a joint initiative of NuGO and HMDB
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All Metabolites | Biochemical | Nutritional | Functional | Metabolic Pathways | Diseases | Phenotypes | Physiological Processes | Protein |
| Alpha linolenic acid | ||||||
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| Chemical Name | octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid | |||||
| Chemical Formula | C18H30O2 | |||||
| CAS Number | 463-40-1 | |||||
| Chemical Information | HMDB01388 | |||||
| Biochemical Taxonomy |
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| Functional Taxonomy | Not Available | |||||
| Nutritional Taxonomy |
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| Metabolic Pathways | Not Available | |||||
| Biofluid Location |
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| Tissue Location |
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| Normal Biofluid Concentrations |
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| Normal Tissue Concentrations | Not Available | |||||
| Diseases / Conditions Related to Nutrition |
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| Other (Monogenic Disorders) | Not Available | |||||
| Abnormal Biofluid Concentrations |
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| Abnormal Tissue Concentrations | Not Available | |||||
| Physiological Processes | Not Available | |||||
| Authors: | |
| Affiliations: |
Introduction
guidelines
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). It is a member of the group of essential fatty acids called omega-3 fatty acids. Alpha-linolenic acid, in particular, is not synthesized by mammals and therefore is an essential dietary requirement for all mammals. Certain nuts (English walnuts) and vegetable oils (canola, soybean, flaxseed/linseed, olive) are particularly rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Omega-3 fatty acids get their name based on the location of one of their first double bond. In all omega-3 fatty acids, the first double bond is located between the third and fourth carbon atom counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid (n-3). Although humans and other mammals can synthesize saturated and some monounsaturated fatty acids from carbon groups in carbohydrates and proteins, they lack the enzymes necessary to insert a cis double bond at the n-6 or the n-3 position of a fatty acid. Omega-3 fatty acids like a-linolenic acid are important structural components of cell membranes. When incorporated into phospholipids, they affect cell membrane properties such as fluidity, flexibility, permeability and the activity of membrane bound enzymes. Omega-3 fatty acids can modulate the expression of a number of genes, including those involved with fatty acid metabolism and inflammation. Alpha linolenic acid and other omega 3 fatty acids may regulate gene expression by interacting with specific transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and liver X receptors (LXRs).
Biological Function
Catabolism
Diseases / Conditions Related to Nutrition
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Dietetic Microangiopathy
Other (Monogenic) Disorders
Nutritional Information
Drivers for biological variation
factors reported with decreased concentrations
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency
Vulnerable groups
Markers of homeostasis and / or health
| Category | Markers | sign yes/no/? | I/D | S/I | ref | score |
| inflammation, immune response | CRP / hsCRP | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info |
| fibrinogen | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Albumin | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| White blood cell count | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| TNF-alpha | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Il-6 | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Il1-beta | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Il-10 | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Prostaglandin F2alpha | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Thromboxane B2 | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Nitric Oxide (NO) | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Serum Amyloid A (SAA) | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| NfkB | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| alpha1-antichymotrypsin | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| oxidative stress | 8(OH)-DG | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info |
| F2-isoprostanes | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| oxidized LDL | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| SOD | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| TBARS | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| myeloperoxidase | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| nitrotyrosine | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Metabolic stress | diastolic BP | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info |
| systolic BP | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| total cholesterol | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| LDL | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| HDL | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| HDL/TC | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| triglycerides | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| homocysteine | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| tPA/PAI-1 | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Fibrin fragment D-dimer | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Factor VIIa | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| sICAM | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| Monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP1) | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| fasting glucose | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| fasting insulin | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| OGTT | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| insulin tolerance test | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| HbA1c | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info | |
| fructosamine | Info | Info | Info | Info | Info |
Determinants of requirements
| Category | Determinants of status | sign yes/no/? help | independent of intake yes/no/? |
| general | gender | Info | Info |
| age (adults) | Info | Info | |
| age (children) | Info | Info | |
| ethnicity | Info | Info | |
| physiological status | polymorphisms | Info | Info |
| pregnancy | Info | Info | |
| lactation | Info | Info | |
| menopause | Info | Info | |
| physical fitness | Info | Info | |
| gut flora | Info | Info | |
| anthropometric variables | body weight | Info | Info |
| BMI | Info | Info | |
| waist circumference | Info | Info | |
| fat free mass | Info | Info | |
| Lifestyle variables | smoking | Info | Info |
| physical activity | Info | Info | |
| alcohol use | Info | Info | |
| medication use (incl. contraceptive pill) | Info | Info | |
| stress | Info | Info |