Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) does not effectively substitute for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in preventing chronic diseases because human conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is highly inefficient.
If you do not eat fatty fish, eating flax or walnuts (ALA) will not fully protect your heart or brain because your body converts very little of it into the active forms (EPA/DHA). To get the proven benefits of long-chain omega-3s, you should consume marine sources directly or take a fish/algal oil supplement, rather than relying solely on plant oils.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
It is not enough to assume that ALA exerts effects through conversion to EPA and DHA, as the process is highly inefficient in humans.
Why this rating
Supported by multiple tracer studies and consensus statements cited in the review.
Source
Are all n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids created equal?
Breanne M. Anderson et al. · Lipids in Health and Disease · 2009
narrative_reviewCited 332×
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