title: Alpha-linolenic acid deficiency in man: effect of ethyl linolenate on plasma and erythrocyte fatty acid composition and biosynthesis of prostanoids.
abstract: Treatment of human alpha-linolenic acid deficiency (ALAD) with ethyl linolenate is reported. The patient's scaly dermatitis nearly disappeared after 5-d supplementation with 0.1 mL ethyl linolenate. Pretreatment content of various n-3 fatty acids in RBC was 0-15% of healthy controls. After 14 d of supplementation, cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced by 70% of pretreatment values, 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 increased three- to fourfold while 18:3n-3 and 20:5n-3 remained low, indicating a rapid elongation and desaturation of 18:3n-3 in ALAD. Urinary excretion of PGI2-M was approximately 10 times higher than in healthy control subjects, while PGI3-M excretion was low. Linolenate supplementation increased PGI2-M excretion twofold, while PGI3-M remained near detection limit. Platelet capacity to synthesize TXA2, and urinary excretion of TXB2+3-M were nearly unaffected by supplementation. The results confirm that the minimal daily requirement of alpha-linolenic acid is 0.2-0.3% of total energy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bjerve
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alme
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004032:Diet; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000172:deficiency*; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D013931:Thromboxanes / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D013931:Thromboxanes; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D011464:Epoprostenol; C039896:ethyl linolenate