Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Alpha-Linolenic Acid and the Metabolism of Arachidonic Acid

  • Chapter
Dietary ω3 and ω6 Fatty Acids

Abstract

Recognition of α-linolenic acid (LnA)* as an EFA in higher animals has been late in forthcoming, in sharp contrast to the abundance of reports demonstrating the essentiality of LA in many animal species, including humans.1 Evidence for an essential role in LnA in vision of Rhesus monkeys has been described,2 and cases of human LnA deficiency have been reported3.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. R. T. Holman, Essential fatty acid deficiency, in “Progress in the Chemistry of Fats and Other Lipids,” R. T. Holman, ed., vol. 9, PP. 274–348, Pergamon, Oxford (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  2. M. Neuringer and W. E. Connor, n-3 Fatty acids in the brain and retina: evidence for their essentiality, Nutr. Rev 44:285 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  3. K. S. Bjerve, I. Lgvold-Mostad, and L. Thoreson, Alpha-linolenic acid deficiency in patients on long-term gastric tube feeding: estimation of linolenic acid and long-chain unsaturated n-3 fatty acid requirement in man, Am. J. Clin. Nutr 45: 66 (1987).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. P. Budowski, Dietary linoleic acid should be balanced by alpha- linolenic acid; a discussion of the nutritional implications of the dietary ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in “Advances in Diet and Nutrition,” C. Horwitz, ed., pp. 199–206, Libbey, London (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  5. P. Budowski and M.A. Crawford, a-Linolenic acid as a regulator of the metabolism of arachidonic acid: dietary implications of the ratio, n-6:n-3 fatty acids,Proc. Nutr. Soc. 44; 221 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. W. E. M. Lands, Biochemical observations on long-chain fatty acids from fish oil and their effect on prostaglandin synthesis in animals and humans, in “Nutritional Evaluation of Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Fish Oil,” S. M. Barlow and M. E. Stansby, Eds., pp. 267–282, Academic Press, London (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  7. W. E. M. Lands, “Fish and Human Health,” Academic Press, Orlando, (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  8. A. P. Simopoulos, R. R. Kifer, and R. E. Martin, Eds., “Health Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Seafoods,” Academic Press, Orlando (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. E. Kinsella, “Seafood and Fish Oils in Human Health and Disease,” Marcel Dekker, New York (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  10. A. G. Hassam, A. L. Willis, J. P. Denton, P. Stevens, and M. A. Crawford, The effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on the levels of prostaglandins and their fatty acid precursors in the rabbit, Lipids 14: 78 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. L. J. Machlin, Effect of dietary linolenate on the proportion of linoleate and arachidonate in liver fat, Nature 194: 868 (1962).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. H. Mohrhauer and R. T. Holman, Effect of linolenic acid upon the metabolism of linoleic acid, J. Nutr. 81: 67 (1963).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. R. Brenner and R. O. Peluffo, Effect of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on the desaturation in vitro of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids, J. Biol. Chem. 241: 5213 (1966).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. B. J. Weaver and R. J. Holub, The inhibition of arachidonic acid incorporation into human platelet phospholipids by eicosapentaenoic acid, Nutr. Res. 5: 31 (1985).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. W. Siess, B. Scherer, B. Bóhling, O. Roth, I. Kurzman, I., and P. C. Weber, Platelet membrane fatty acids, platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation during a mackerel diet, Lancet i: 441 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  16. T. Terano, J. A. Salmon, and S. Moncada, Effect of orally administered eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the formation of leukotriene B4 and leukotriene B5 by rat leukocytes, Biochem. Pharmacol 33: 3071 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. S. M. Prescott, The effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on leukotriene B production by human neutrophils, J. Biol. Chem. 259:7615 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  18. G. O. Burr and M. M. Burr, A new deficiency disease produced by the rigid exclusion of fat from the diet, J. Biol. Chem. 82: 345 (1929).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. G. O. Burr and M. M. Burr, On the nature and role of fatty acids in nutrition, J. Biol. Chem. 86: 587 (1930).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. N. Zöllner, 0. Adam, and G. Wolfram, The influence of linoleic acid intake on the excretion of urinary prostaglandin metabolites, Res. Exp Med. (Berlin) 175: 149 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Adam, G. Wolfram, and N. Zöllner, Prostaglandin formation in man during intake of different amounts of linoleic acid in formula diets, Ann. Nutr. Metab 26: 315 (1982).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. M. J. Silver, W. Hoch, J. J. Kocsis, C. M. Ingerman, and J. B. Smith, Arachidonic acid causes sudden death in rabbits, Science 183: 1085 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. T. Furlow and N. Bass, Stroke in rats produced by carotid injection of sodium arachidonate, Science 187: 658 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. M. D. Seyberth, O. Oelz, T. Kennedy, B. J. Sweetman, J. C. Frólich, M. Heimberg, and J. A. Oates, Increased arachidonate in lipids after administration to man: effects on prostaglandin synthesis, Clin. Pharmacol Ther. 18:521 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Y. Dror, P. Budowski, J. J. Bubis, U. Sandbank, and M. Wolman, Chick nutritional encephalopathy induced by diet rich in oxidized oil and deficient in tocopherol, in “Progress in Neuropathology,” vol. 3, H. M. Zimmerman, ed., pp. 343–357, Grune 8 Stratton, New York (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  26. P. Budowski, I. Bartov, Y. Dror, and E. N. Frankel, Lipid oxidation products and chick nutritional encephalopathy, Lipids 14: 768 (1979).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. P. Budowski, C. M. Hawkey, and M. A. Crawford, L’effet protecteur de l’acide cc.-linolénique sur l’encephalomalacie chez le poulet, Ann. Nutr. Aliment 34: 389 (1980).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. H. Dam, G. K. Nielsen, I. Prange, and E. SOndergaard, Influence of linoleic and linolenic acids on symptoms of vitamin E. deficiency in chicks, Nature 182: 802 (1958).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. H. Dam, and E. SOndergaard, The encephalomalacia-producing effect of arachidonic and linoleic acids, Z. Ernährungswiss 2: 217 (1962).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. P. Budowski and S. Mokadi, Detection of free-radical damage in the vitamin E-deficient chick, Biochem. Biophys Acta 52:609 (1961).

    Google Scholar 

  31. P. Budowski and M. A. Crawford, Effect of dietary linoleic and o-linolenic acid on the fatty acid composition of brain lipids in the young chick, Prog. Lipid Res. 25:615 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  32. P. Budowski, M. Leighfield, and M. A. Crawford, Nutritional encephalomalacia in the chick: an exposure of the vulnerable period for cerebellar development and the possible need for both 446- and 03-fatty acids, Br. J. Nutr. 58: 511 (1987).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. C. Galli, H. I. Trzeciak, and R. Paoletti, Effects of dietary fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of brain ethanolamine phosphoglyceride: reciprocal replacement of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, Biochem. Biophys Acta 248:449 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  34. A. Nord0y, The influence of saturated fat, cholesterol, corn oil and linseed oil on experimental venous thrombosis in rats, Diath. Haemorrh 13:244 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  35. A. Nordoy, The influence of saturated fat, cholesterol, corn oil and linseed oil on the ADP-induced platelet adhesiveness in the rat, Diath. Haemorrh 13:543 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  36. A. Nord0y, J. T. Hamlin, A. B. Chandler, and H. Newland, The influence of dietary fats on plasma and platelet lipids and ADP-induced platelet thrombosis in the rat, Scand J. Haemat 5: 458 (1968).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. F. W. Vas Dias, M. G. Gibney, and T. G. Taylor, The effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 and n-6 series on platelet aggregation and platelet and aorta fatty acid composition in rabbits, Atherosclerosis 43: 245 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  38. M. Ishinaga, M. Kakuta, H. Narita, and M. Kito, Inhibition of platelet aggregation by dietary linseed oil, Agr Biol. Chem. 47: 903 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. D. H. Hwang and A. E. Carroll, Decreased formation of prostaglandins derived from arachidonic acid by dietary linolenate in rats, Am. J. Clin. Nutr 33: 590 (1980).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. H. S. Hansen, B. Fjalland, and B. Jensen, Extremely decreased release of prostaglandin E2-like activity from chopped lung of ethyl linolenate-supplemented rats, Lipids 18: 691 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. F. ten Boor, E. A. M. de Deckere, E. Haddeman, G. Hornstra, and J. F. A. Quadt, Dietary manipulation of prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis in heart, aorta and blood platelets of the rat, in “Advances in Prostaglandin, and Thromboxane Research,” vol. 8, B. Samuelsson, P. W. Ramwell and R. Paoletti, Eds., pp. 1771–1781, Raven Press, New York (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  42. G. Hornstra, E. Hadde,an, J. Kloeze, and P. M. Verschuren, Dietary fat-induced changes in the formation of prostanoids of the 2 and 3 series in relation to arterial thrombosis (rat) and atherosclerosis (rabbit), Adv. Prost. Thromb. Leukotr Res. 12: 193 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Adam, G. Wolfram, and N. Zöllner, Wirkung der Linol-und Linolensäure auf die Prostaglandinbildung und Nierenfunktion beim Menschen, Fette Seifen Anstrichmittel 86: 180 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. P. Budowski, N. Trostler, M. Lupo, N. Vaisman, and A. Eldor, Effect of linseed oil ingestion on plasma fatty acid composition and platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers, Nutr. Res. 4: 343 (1984).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. R. L. Rizek, S. 0. Welsh, R.. Marston, and E. M. Jackson, Levels and sources of fat in the U.S. food supply and in diets of individuals, in “Dietary Fats and Health,” E. C. Perkins and W. J. Visek, Eds., pp. 13–43, American Oil Chemists’Society, Champaign (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  46. H. G. Kirschenbauer, “Fats and Oils,” ( 2nd ed. ), Reinhold Publ. Corp., New York (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Anon., Researchers report gains in hunt for low-linolenic soybeans, J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 59: 882A (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  48. S. Bavly, R. Poznanski, and N. Kaufmann, Levels of Nutrition in Israel 1975/76. Ministry of Education and Culture, and Hebrew UniversityHadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Central Bureau of Statistics, Jerusalem, Food Balance Sheets 1985/1986.

    Google Scholar 

  50. S. H. Blondheim, T. Horne, R. Davidovich, J. Kapitulnik, S. Segal, and N. Kaufman, Unsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissue of Israeli Jews, Isr. J. Med. Sci. 12: 658 (1976).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. R. G. Schwartz, T. Horne, and S. H. Blondheim, Fatty acid saturation in subcutaneous fat of young Americans and Israelis, Isr. J. Med. Sci. 15: 778 (1979).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. M. G. Enig, P. Budowski, and S. H. Blondheim, Trans-unsaturated fatty acids and human subcutaneous fat in Israel, Human Nutr Clin. Nutr 38C: 223 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  53. E. M. Berry and J. Hirsch, Does dietary linolenic acid influence blood pressure ? Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 44: 336 (1986).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. R. A. Riemersma, D. A. Wood, and S. Butler, Linoleic acid in adipose tissue and coronary heart disease, Br. Med. J. 292: 1423 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. J. D. Speth, “Bison Kills and Bone Counts,” Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  56. J. D. Speth, Early hominid subsistence strategies in seasonal habitats, J. Archeological Sci. 14: 13 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. S. B. Eaton and M. Konner, Paleolithic nutrition. A consideration of its nature and current implications, N. Engl. J. Med. 312: 283 (1985).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel

    P. Budowski

Authors
  1. P. Budowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Claudio Galli

  2. ILSI Research Foundation, Washington, D.C., USA

    Artemis P. Simopoulos

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Budowski, P. (1989). Alpha-Linolenic Acid and the Metabolism of Arachidonic Acid. In: Galli, C., Simopoulos, A.P. (eds) Dietary ω3 and ω6 Fatty Acids. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2043-3_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2043-3_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-2045-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-2043-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation