α-Linolenic Acid

α-Linolenic Acid (ALA), an 18 carbon polyunsaturated essential fatty acid, has been found to exert in vitro anti-inflammatory effects in murine intestine. Mechanistic studies suggest that this compound decreases TNFα (tumor necrosis factor-α) secretion levels as well as NF-κB activation. Additionally, ALA has been noted to be a reactive oxygen species scavenger that temporarily improves cell proliferation. Further experiments report that an increase in ALA levels seems to be correlated inversely with plasma IL-6 (interleukin-6) soluble receptor levels.