Definition: α-Linolenic acid (ALA) is an organic compound found in many common vegetable oils. Systematically, it is named all-cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 18:3 (n−3).
ALA is a carboxylic acid with an 18-carbon chain and three cis double bonds. The first double bond is located at the third carbon from the n end. Thus, ALA is a polyunsaturated n−3 fatty acid (omega-3 fatty acid) . It is an isomer of γ-linolenic acid, a polyunsaturated n−6 fatty acid (omega-6 fatty acid).
See also
lipids
