Dietary fat composition: replacement of saturated fatty acids with PUFA as a public health strategy, with an emphasis on α-linolenic acid.
Lenighan YM, McNulty BA, Roche HM.
Proc Nutr Soc. 2019 May;78(2):234-245. doi: 10.1017/S0029665118002793. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Intake of alpha-linolenic acid is not consistently associated with a lower risk of peripheral artery disease: results from a Danish cohort study.
Bork CS, Lasota AN, Lundbye-Christensen S, Jakobsen MU, Tjønneland A, Calder PC, Schmidt EB, Overvad K.
Br J Nutr. 2019 Apr 22:1-19. doi: 10.1017/S0007114519000874.

Low eicosapentaenoic acid and gamma-linolenic acid levels in breast adipose tissue are associated with inflammatory breast cancer.
Chas M, Goupille C, Arbion F, Bougnoux P, Pinault M, Jourdan ML, Chevalier S, Ouldamer L.
Breast. 2019 Jun;45:113-117. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2019.04.001. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Increased α-Linolenic Acid Intake during Pregnancy is Associated with Higher Offspring Birth Weight.
Phang M, Dissanayake HU, McMullan RL, Hyett J, Gordon A, Garg ML, Skilton MR.
Curr Dev Nutr. 2018 Oct 18;3(2):nzy081. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzy081. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Specific delivery of delta-5-desaturase siRNA via RNA nanoparticles supplemented with dihomo-γ-linolenic acid for colon cancer suppression.
Xu Y, Pang L, Wang H, Xu C, Shah H, Guo P, Shu D, Qian SY.
Redox Biol. 2019 Feb;21:101085. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.101085. Epub 2018 Dec 18

Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid inhibits xenograft tumor growth in mice bearing shRNA-transfected HCA-7 cells targeting delta-5-desaturase.
Xu Y, Yang X, Gao D, Yang L, Miskimins K, Qian SY.
BMC Cancer. 2018 Dec 19;18(1):1268. doi: 10.1186/s12885-018-5185-9.

Effect of α-linolenic acid on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in untreated high-normal and stage I hypertensive subjects.
Pieters DJ, Zock PL, Fuchs D, Mensink RP.
Br J Nutr. 2019 Jan;121(2):155-163. doi: 10.1017/S0007114518003094. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

A liposome-based formulation containing equol, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and propionyl-l-carnitine to prevent and treat hair loss: A prospective investigation.
Brotzu G, Fadda AM, Manca ML, Manca T, Marongiu F, Campisi M, Consolaro F.
Dermatol Ther. 2019 Jan;32(1):e12778. doi: 10.1111/dth.12778. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Topically applied linoleic/linolenic acid for chronic migraine.
Santos C, Weaver DF.
J Clin Neurosci. 2018 Dec;58:200-201. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2018.10.013. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Linolenic acid is classified as "essential fatty acid" but, although it is "essential" for the proper functioning of our body, it is not produced by the human body.

It is found mainly in the vegetable kingdom in seed oils or in fish that feed on plankton.

It serves for the correct functioning of the circulatory system and for the correct blood coagulation. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, neuroprotective and gut flora-regulating properties (1).

For more information:

Linolenic acid studies

Molecular Formula: C₁₈H₃₀O₂

Linear Formula CH₃(CH₂CH=CH)₃(CH₂)₇CO₂H

Molecular Weight: 278.436 g/mol

UNII: 0RBV727H71

CAS: 463-40-1  68424-45-3

EC Number: 270-304-8  207-334-8

PubChem Substance ID 24896311

MDL number MFCD00065720

Beilstein Registry Number 1727693

Synonyms:

• alpha-Linolenic acid
• linolenate
• (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid
• a-Linolenic acid
• cis-Delta(9,12,15)-octadecatrienoic acid
• (Z,Z,Z)-Octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid
• cis-delta9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
• cis,cis,cis-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
• all-cis-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
• .alpha.-Linolenic acid
• 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
• alpha-Linolenate
• 9-cis,12-cis,15-cis-Octadecatrienoic acid
• (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
• (9,12,15)-linolenic acid
• 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)-
• Linolenic acid (8CI)
• alpha-Lnn
• 9Z,12Z,15Z-Octadecatrienoic acid
• Industrene 120

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Yuan Q, Xie F, Huang W, Hu M, Yan Q, Chen Z, Zheng Y, Liu L. The review of alpha-linolenic acid: Sources, metabolism, and pharmacology. Phytother Res. 2022 Jan;36(1):164-188. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7295.