June 27, 2012

Gamma-linolenic acid

Gamma-linolenic acid is a trivial name for a fatty acid that has an 18-carbon chain length and three double bonds attached to the 6th, 9th and 12th carbons counting from the carbonyl end.

GLA is an omega-6 fat in blackcurrant seed oil will help protect human body against the negative effects of type 2 prostaglandins, such as inflammation, high blood pressure and lowered immune function.

Linolenic acid which is found in cooking oils and processed foods, is converted into gamma-linolenic acid in the human body.

Gamma-linolenic acid supplements are available in high levels the in evening primrose, blackcurrant seed oil, and borage oil, which also provide linolenic acid.

People who have diabetes are less than healthy individuals to convert linolenic acid to gamma-linolenic acid. Other conditions including aging, alcoholism, atopic dermatitis, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Gamma-linolenic acid is used in the treatment of various illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, premenstrual symptoms. It is believed that tumor growth and metastasis can be quelled with gamma-linolenic acid especially breast cancer.

In an animal study of breast cancer published in the European Journal of Cancer, gamma-linolenic acid was found significantly increase the effectiveness of the taxanes in killing cancer cells.
Gamma-linolenic acid