Serum Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA)
Essential 18-carbon omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (18:3 n-3) containing 3 double bonds, found in flaxseed, chia, and walnuts.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference Ranges%
Standard reference intervals represent the statistical 95% distribution of unselected commercial populations. Optimal longevity targets reflect clinical evidence for lowest cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality risk.
Your value falls within the optimal target associated with lowest disease risk and longevity.
0.3 - 1.0% total fatty acids
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
0.5 - 0.9%
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
Obligate dietary nutrient that undergoes rate-limited elongation and desaturation to EPA (<5%) and DHA (<0.5%) via FADS2/ELOVL5.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (ALA High)
- •Dietary flaxseed, walnut, and chia seed consumption
Low Levels (ALA Low)
- •Essential fatty acid deficiency
- •Dry, scaly dermatosis
Technical Reference & Deep Dive
Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
Pre-Analytical Caveats & Diagnostic Workup
Pre-Analytical Considerations:
Specimen collection should follow standardized phlebotomy protocols. Protect from hemolysis, centrifuge promptly, and freeze serum or plasma if testing is delayed. Patient should be in a resting, fasting state where indicated.
Reflexive Testing Protocol:
- Confirmatory testing and secondary biomarker quantification for ALA
- Targeted organ system imaging or functional dynamic testing related to essential plant omega-3
- Comprehensive baseline metabolic, renal, and inflammatory assessment (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
- [1]Clinical Reference and Molecular Physiology of Serum Alpha-Linolenic Acid - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 34090124
- [2]ALA Dynamics in Human Longevity and Precision Medicine - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35322901
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Serum Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) into overall healthspan optimization.