| Definition | Gamma-Linolenic acid is also known as 18:3 (N-6), gamolenic acid or gamma-linolensaeure. It is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) also referred to as 9,12-octadecatrienoic acid (cis-6, cis-9, cis-12- octadecatrienoic acid). It belongs to the class of organic compounds known as lineolic acids and derivatives. These are derivatives of lineolic acid. Lineolic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-6 18 carbon long fatty acid, with two CC double bonds at the 9- and 12-positions. gamma-Linolenic acid is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water, and relatively neutral. It is found largely in human milk and other botanical sources. Gamma-Linolenic acid is found in varying amounts in edible hemp seeds, oats, barley and spirulina. Gamolenic acid is also found in some fungal sources and is present naturally in the form of triglycerides. Gamolenic acid may be found in over-the-counter dietary supplements. Gamma-Linolenic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid produced in the body as the delta 6-desaturase metabolite of linoleic acid. It is converted into dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, a biosynthetic precursor of monoenoic prostaglandins such as Prostaglandin E1(PGE1). Evening primrose oil, containing 7-14% gamma-linolenic acid, has been investigated for clinical use in menopausal syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, breast pain (PMID: 27083549 ) and eczema. It has been questioned if evening primrose oil, containing gamma-linolenic acid, helped alleviate atopic eczema (PMID: 14670851 ). However, its effectiveness in treating eczema was demonstrated in a study where the topical application of borage seed oil (with higher concentrations of gamma linolenic acid than evening primrose oil) reduced symptoms of atopic dermatitis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (PMID: 18078406 ). Various clinical indications of gamolenic acid have been studied, including rheumatoid arthritis, atopic eczema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, premenstrual syndrome, cardiovascular disease, ulcerative colitis, ADHD, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetic neuropathy, and insomnia ( PMID: 27083549 ; PMID: 27083549 ). |
|---|
