GLA
GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is an essential Omega-6 fatty acid, found primarily in plant-based oils.
Essential fatty acids are essential to human health but the body is not capable of producing them and must be obtained from food.
Research has shown that essential fatty acids have a role in normal brain functioning, growth and development, bone health, stimulation of skin and hair growth, regulation of metabolism, and maintenance of reproductive processes.
One source for the compound is Linoleic acid, found in cooking oils, which is converted into GLA in the body.
Rich direct sources for the compound include evening primrose oil, black currant seed oil, and borage oil.
However, current research suggests that the average American diet provides more than 10 times the necessary amount of linoleic acid, leading to too much Omega-6 fatty acid consumption in relation to Omega-3 fatty acids, another important class of essential fatty acids.
Research suggests that there is an optimal ratio between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids for optimum health benefits and the current typical diet skews in favor of too much of Omega-6.
GLA is broken down in the body to arachidonic acid (AA) and/or dihomogamma-liolenic acid (DGLA).
Of these, arachidonic acid (AA) tends to be unhealthy because it promotes inflammation. It has been suggested that DGLA competes with AA and prevents the negative inflammatory effects that AA would otherwise cause in the body.
According to some studies, certain nutrients in the body, including magnesium, zinc, and vitamins C, B3, and B6, help to promote the conversion of GLA to DGLA rather than AA.
GLA - Studies
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Engler MM, Schambelan M, Engler MB, Ball DL, Goodfriend TL. Effects of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on blood pressure and adrenal angiotensin receptors in hypertensive rats. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998;218(3):234-237.
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Frenoux JMR, Prost ED, Belleville JL, Prost JL. A polyunsaturated fatty acid diet lowers blood pressure and improves antioxidant status in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Nutr. 2001;131(1):39-45.
Furse RK, Rossetti RG, Zurier RB. Gammalinolenic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties, blocks amplification of IL-1 beta production by human monocytes. J Immunol. 2001;1;167(1):490-496.
Garcia CM, et al. Gamma linolenic acid causes weight loss and lower blood pressure in overweight patients with family history of obesity. Swed J Biol Med. 1986;4:8-11.
Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ, Grecka P, Dionyssiou-Asteriou A, et al. In vitro interactions of gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid with ceftazidime on multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Lipids. 1999;34:S151-152.
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Graham-Brown R. Atopic dermatitis: unapproved treatments or indications. Clin Dermatol. 2000;18(2):153-158.
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Hederos CA, Berg A. Epogam evening primrose oil treatment in atopic dermatitis and asthma. Arch Dis Child. 1996;75(6):494-497
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Ikushima S, Fujiwara F, Todo S, Imashuku S. Gamma linolenic acid alters the cytotoxic activity of anticancer drugs on cultured human neuroblastoma cells. Anticancer Res. 1990;10:1055-1059.
Kankaanpaa P, Nurmela K, Erkkila A, et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in maternal diet, breast milk, and serum lipid fattty acids of infants in relation to atopy. Allergy. 2001;56(7):633-638.
Kast RE. Borage oil reduction of rheumatoid arthritis activity may be mediated by increased cAMP that suppresses tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Int Immunopharmacol. 2001;1(12):2197-2199.
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Whitaker DK, Cilliers J, de Beer C. Evening primrose oil (Epogam) in the treatment of chronic hand dermatitis: disappointing therapeutic results. Dermatology. 1996;193(2):115-120.
Worm M, Henz BM. Novel unconventional therapeutic approaches to atopic eczema. Dermatology. 2000;201(3):191-195.
Wu D, Meydani M, Leka LS, et al. Effect of dietary supplementation with black currant seed oil in the immune response of healthy elderly subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;70:536-543.
Yam D, Eliraz A, Berry EM. Diet and disease – the Israeli paradox: possible dangers of high omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid diet. Isr J Med Sci. 1996;32(11):1134-1143.
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