Arachidonic Acid
An omega-6 fatty acid formed in the body from linoleic acid—an essential fatty acid found in nuts, seeds and vegetable oils (pre-formed arachidonic acid is also found in food sources such as red meat, eggs and poultry). Like the omega-3 metabolites EPA and DHA, arachidonic acid (AA) is incorporated into cell membrane phospholipids. When released, it can form a number of biologically active metabolites known collectively as “eicosanoids.” In general, the omega-3-based eicosanoids tend to be anti-inflammatory, while the omega-6 based eicosanoids are pro-inflammatory. Two of the latter, PGF2a and PGE2 may play roles in muscle protein synthesis, which is the rationale for AA supplementation.
