Whole Body Synthesis of Docosahexaenoic Acid from Alpha-Linolenic Acid in Rodents

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) that is thought to be important for neurological function partly through its role in the regulation of cell survival and neuroinflammation. The main dietary source of DHA is fish. Therefore, recommendations to increase DHA consumption may not be sustainable. Alternatively, DHA can be synthesized from precursor n-3 PUFA found in plants, primarily α-linolenic acid (ALA). DHA synthesis is generally accepted to be low, however, the requirement for DHA in the brain is not agreed upon and recent estimates for the brain DHA requirement range from 2.4-3.8 mg/day (Ph.D