Possible Interaction: Alanine and Docosahexaenoic Acid

“Although we have recently reviewed the ALA conversion debate (Barcel oCoblijn and Murphy 2009), 50 years ago it was observed that dietary ALA increases brain DHA content and that DHA content is protected from variations in dietary linoleic acid (18:2n-6) intake (Mohrhauer and Holman 1963).”

“Some 40 years later we, as well as others, have shown that dietary ALA can enhance brain DHA content, although not to the same extent as dietary DHA intake (Barcel o-Coblijn et al. 2005).”

“This groundbreaking study demonstrates that DHA is protected from changes in dietary fatty acids, but is indeed enhanced upon intake of its precursor, ALA.”

“Conclusions The competition between ALA and 24:5n-3 for Fads2 may explain the decrease in DHA levels observed after certain intakes of dietary ALA have been exceeded.”

“Formation of LC n–3 FA, especially to DHA , from ALA appears to be rather inefficient, although somewhat higher conversion rates have been shown in premenopausal women than in men [Giltay et al., 2004]. •”

“ ALA + quercetin slightly decreased DHA concentration by 9·3 %.”

“The parallel pattern of accumulation of 24:6n-3 and DHA in response to increasing concentrations of ALA suggests that the competition between 24:5n-3 and ALA for D6D may contribute to the limited accumulation of DHA in cell membranes.”

“Total fatty acids in blood, liver, epididymal fat pad, prostate were detected and … were adjusted for body weight (mg/25 g).ResultsWe found that dietary ALA triggered significant increases in …, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and DHA levels and a significant decrease in arachidonic … levels during the mice’s growth stage.”

“If dietary EPA and DHA repress their endogenous synthesis from α-linolenic acid ( ALA , 18 : 3n-3), then the potential of ALA-containing vegetable oils to maintain tissue EPA and DHA has been underestimated.”

“When dietary ALA intakes were greater than 0.8% en, tissue DHA levels were inversely related to ALA intake, suggesting that high intake of dietary ALA may inhibit DHA synthesis.”

“Also, ALA supplementation increased DHA concentrations but induced different physiological responses to EPA and DHA.”

“Although lower tumor numbers coincided with significantly lower prostaglandin levels in SDA- and EPA-fed mice, ALA and DHA supplementation resulted in equally low prostaglandin levels, despite proving less efficacious with regard to tumor number.”