Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) - Glossary

Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA)

Posted By on Mar 16, 2009 | 0 comments

An omega-6 fatty acid found in evening primrose, borage, hemp and black currant seed oil.  GLA is also formed naturally in the body from linoleic acid (LA).  Unlike (LA-derived) arachidonic acid (AA), however, GLA has anti-inflammatory activity.  In the body, GLA is converted to dihomogamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) which competes with arachidonic acid and interferes with the formation of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids from it.  In addition, DGLA-derived eicosanoids, such as PGE1, also have anti-inflammatory effects.

Author: elissa

Elissa is a former research associate with the University of California at Davis, and the author/co-author of over a dozen articles published in scientific journals. Currently a freelance writer and researcher, Elissa brings her multidisciplinary education and training to her writing on nutrition and supplements.

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