CAS No.: 463-40-1 Formula: C18H30O2
Weight: 278.43000
Synonyms: octadecatrienoic acid; Linolenic acid; 2-Glyceryl 9,12-octadecadienoate; (9Z,12Z,15Z)-linolenic acid; C18:3 (9,12,15-cis all)
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid with three double bonds (C18H30O2) and is an omega-3 essential fatty acid. Alpha-linolenic acid is found in 64% of Perilla seed oil, 55% of flaxseed oil, 32% of sea buckthorn seed oil, 20% of hemp seed oil, 10% of canola oil, and 8% of soybean oil. Because the oxidation of alpha-linolenic acid contained in soybean oil can lead to rancidity, the production of soybean oil is often solved by partial hydrogenation, resulting in the production of trans fats. Current soybean breeding efforts are aimed at breeding varieties with low alpha-linolenic acid content to improve the stability of the resulting soybean oil without hydrogenation. There are many beverages on the market that are marketed as alpha-linolenic acid supplements. However, it is not as convenient as using edible oils such as flaxseed oil in the diet.