Industrial oil flax (Linum usitatissimum) and edible oil or solin flax differ markedly in seed linolenic acid levels. Despite the economic importance of low-linolenic-acid or solin flax, the molecular mechanism underlying this trait has not been established. Two independently inherited genes control the low-linolenic-acid trait in flax. Here, we identified two genes, LuFAD3A and LuFAD3B that en...

In the present intervention study we compared the effects of alpha-linolenic acid with those of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo in healthy non-institutionalized elderly subjects. We also compared the effects of alpha-linolenic acid on platelet aggregation in elderly subjects with those in younger volunteers. During a run-in...

Two species of rumen bacteria that have been previously shown to partially hydrogenate a-linolenic acid have been examined for their ability to hydrogenate y-linolenic acid. Free y-linolenic acid is hydrogenated in vitro to stearic acid by a rumen Fusocillus sp. (N.C.I.B. 11026), but only to cis,trans-octadec-6,1 1-enoic acid by a Butyrivibrio sp. The sequential hydrogenations are preceded by a...

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) production by Spirulina platensis under different stress-inducing conditions was studied. Submerged culture studies showed that low temperature (25°C), strong light intensity (6 klux) and primrose oil supplement (0.8%w/v) induced 13.2 mg/g, 14.6 mg/g and 13.5 mg linolenic acid per gram dry cell weight respectively. A careful observation of fatty acid profile of the cy...

Alteration of the lipid content and fatty acid (FA) composition of foods can result in a healthier product. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of flaxseed oil or sunflower oil in the goat diet on fatty acid composition of muscle and expression of lipogenic genes in the semitendinosus (ST) muscle. Twenty-one entire male Boer kid goats were fed diets containing different levels of ...

The effect of dietary a-linolenic acid intake on linoleic acid metabolism and prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis was investigated in two groups of six healthy females (25-32 yr). They were given isocaloric formula diets (FD) containing linoleic acid at a constant intake (4% of calories), with different amounts of a-linolenic acid: 0% (FD4/0), 4% (FD4/4), 8% (FD4/8) (group I) and 12% (FD4/12) or 16...

OBJECTIVE To explore the separate and combined effects of simvastatin and a low-saturated diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid on serum fatty acids. METHODS AND RESULTS 120 hypercholesterolemic men were randomly allocated to a habitual diet or dietary treatment group and to receive, in random order, simvastatin 20 mg/d or placebo, each for 12 weeks, in a double-blind manner. Dietary treatment de...

BACKGROUND High dietary intake of linolenic acid is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality. However, little is known about the association between linolenic acid and subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS To examine the association between dietary linolenic acid measured by food frequency questionnaire and calcified atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary ar...

The metabolism of the linolenic acid family (n-3) of fatty acids, e.g., linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids, in cultured smooth muscle cells from rabbit aorta was compared to the metabolism of linoleic and arachidonic acids. There was a time-dependent uptake of these fatty acids into cells for 16 hr (arachidonic greater than docosahexaenoic, linoleic, eicosapentaenoic greater...