Effect of 1‐ and 2‐Month High‐Dose Alpha‐Linolenic Acid Treatment on (13)C‐Labeled Alpha‐Linolenic Acid Incorporation and Conversion in Healthy Subjects

SCOPE: The study aims at identifying 1) the most sensitive compartment among plasma phospholipids, erythrocytes, and LDL for studying alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) conversion, and 2) whether ALA incorporation and conversion is saturable after administration of (13)C‐labeled ALA‐rich linseed oil (LO). The effect of a daily intake of 7 g nonlabeled LO (>43% w/w ALA) for 1 month after bolus administration of 7 g (13)C‐labeled LO on day 1, and for 2 months after bolus administration of 7 g (13)C‐labeled LO on day 1 and day 29 on (13)C‐ALA incorporation and conversion into its higher homologs is investigated in healthy volunteers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Incorporation and conversion of LO‐derived (13)C‐labeled ALA is quantified by applying compartmental modeling. After bolus administration, a fractional conversion of approximately 30% from (13)C‐ALA to (13)C‐DHA is calculated as reflected by the LDL compartment. Treatment with LO for 8 weeks induces a mean reduction of (13)C‐ALA conversion to (13)C‐DHA by 48% as reflected by the LDL compartment, and a mean reduction of the (13)C‐ALA incorporation into LDL by 46%. CONCLUSION: A 2‐month dietary intake of a high dose of LO is sufficient to reach saturation of ALA incorporation into LDL particles, which are responsible for ALA distribution in the body.