MOLECULE

Stearidonic acid

Stearidonic acid, also known as SDA or stearidonate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as lineolic acids and derivatives. These are derivatives of lineolic acid. Stearidonic acid is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water, and relatively neutral. It is biosynthesized from linolenic acid by the enzyme delta-6-desaturase. Natural sources of this fatty acid are the seed oils of hemp, blackcurrant and echium, and the cyanobacterium spirulina (a rich source of vitamins and minerals). Stearidonic acid is found in dietary plant oils which are metabolized to longer-chain, more unsaturated (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). These oils appear to possess hypotriglyceridemic properties typically associated with fish oils (PMID: 15173404). Stearidonic acid may be used as a precursor to increase the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content of human lipids and that combinations of gamma-linolenic acid and stearidonic acid can be used to manipulate the fatty acid compositions of lipid pools in subtle ways. Such effects may offer new strategies for manipulation of cell composition to influence cellular responses and functions in desirable ways (PMID: 15120716).