title: Alpha-linolenic acid: is it essential to cardiovascular health?
abstract: There is a large body of scientific evidence that has been confirmed in randomized controlled trials indicating a cardioprotective effect for omega-3 fatty acids from fish. For alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the omega-3 fatty acid from plants, the relation to cardiovascular health is less clear. We reviewed the recent literature on dietary ALA intake, ALA tissue concentrations, and cardiovascular health in humans. Short-term trials (6-12 weeks) in generally healthy participants mostly showed no or inconsistent effects of ALA intake (1.2-3.6 g/d) on blood lipids, low-density lipoprotein oxidation, lipoprotein(a), and apolipoproteins A-I and B. Studies of ALA in relation to inflammatory markers and glucose metabolism yielded conflicting results. With regard to clinical cardiovascular outcomes, there is observational evidence for a protective effect against nonfatal myocardial infarction. However, no protective associations were observed between ALA status and risk of heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and sudden death. Findings from long-term trials of ALA supplementation are awaited to answer the question whether food-based or higher doses of ALA could be important for cardiovascular health in cardiac patients and the general population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. marianne.geleijnse@wur.nl
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geleijnse
authors.forename: Janette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Goede
authors.forename: Ingeborg A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Brouwer
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C405603:Omacor
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