ALA is an essential fatty acid that must be consumed in adequate amounts to prevent deficiency. In the United States, the majority of adults meet or exceed the recommended adequate intake of ALA, and deficiency is uncommon.[1][2] When deficiency does occur, it may lead to dry, scaly skin, vision problems, and neuropathy.[3][4] In rodent models of ALA deficiency, impaired learning abilities have been observed, but this hasn’t been found in humans.[5]
References
- ^Papanikolaou Y, Brooks J, Reider C, Fulgoni VLU.S. adults are not meeting recommended levels for fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake: results of an analysis using observational data from NHANES 2003-2008.Nutr J.(2014-Apr-02)
- ^Trumbo P, Schlicker S, Yates AA, Poos M, Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, The National AcademiesDietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein and amino acidsJ Am Diet Assoc.(2002 Nov)
- ^P B Jeppesen, C E Høy, P B MortensenEssential fatty acid deficiency in patients receiving home parenteral nutritionAm J Clin Nutr.(1998 Jul)
- ^Holman RT, Johnson SB, Hatch TFA case of human linolenic acid deficiency involving neurological abnormalities.Am J Clin Nutr.(1982-Mar)
- ^Yamamoto N, Saitoh M, Moriuchi A, Nomura M, Okuyama HEffect of dietary alpha-linolenate/linoleate balance on brain lipid compositions and learning ability of rats.J Lipid Res.(1987-Feb)