The overall rating for alpha-linolenic acid is 1.3 out of 3 meaning there is little if any evidence that this supplement does what it claims to do. Using this supplement will not lead to positive results.

Table of Contents

  1. Simple Report
  2. Detailed Report
  3. Overall Effectiveness Rating
  4. Research Rating
  5. Claim Ratings
  6. References

Alpha-Linolenic Acid Simple Report

  • Supplement: Alpha-Linolenic Acid
  • Supplement Category: omega 3 fatty acids
  • Number of Products Containing Alpha-Linolenic Acid: 0
  • Effectiveness Rating: 1.3 out of 3
  • Research Rating: 33 (above 80 indicates sufficient research)
  • Number of Studies: 6
  • Number of Claims: 8

Alpha-Linolenic Acid Detailed Report

Overall Effectiveness Rating

The overall effectiveness rating for alpha-linolenic acid is 1.3 out of 3. This rating means there is little to no evidence to back the supplement's use. Using this supplement will not lead to positive results. Note, this effectiveness rating is for alpha-linolenic acid as a whole; there are also individual ratings for the claims below.

Read more: What is the effectiveness rating?

Research Rating for Alpha-Linolenic Acid

There are 6 studies in the database on alpha-linolenic acid; the research rating is 33. A score above 80 means the effectiveness rating for this supplement is reliable. A score under 80 means there is insufficient evidence to ensure a reliable effectiveness rating. Note, this research rating is for alpha-linolenic acid as a whole; there are also individual ratings for the claims below.

Read more: What is the research rating?

Claim Ratings

The overall ratings above are an average of the individual claim ratings below. Individual claims may have higher or lower ratings compared to the supplement's overall rating. For example, some supplements may have excellent backing for one claim, but be completely useless for another. Click on a claim below for more information.

Body Composition (weight, muscle, body fat) Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
increase muscle mass

Performance Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
increase strength

Cardiovascular Health Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels
lower total cholesterol levels
lower triglyceride levels

General Health Claims Effectiveness Rating Research Rating
improve insulin sensitivity
improve glucose control

References

Title of Study
a-Linolenic acid and marine long-chain n-3 fatty acids differ only slightly in their effects on hemostatic factors in healthy subjects13
Alpha-linolenic acid supplementation and resistance training in older adults
Dietary alpha-linolenic acid, EPA, and DHA have differential effects on LDL fatty acid composition but similar effects on serum lipid profiles in normolipidemic humans
Dietary α-linolenic acid alters tissue fatty acid composition, but not blood lipids, lipoproteins or coagulation status in humans
Effects of dietary alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid on parameters of glucose metabolism in healthy volunteers
Supplementation of α-linolenic acid improves serum adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes