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Lv 5
? asked in Food & DrinkVegetarian & Vegan · 9 years ago

Can the human body change ALA into EPA and DHA?

It was to my understanding that the human body could not, which is why flax seeds are not a source of DHA. However the other day someone challenged me on this. He said the body can change ALA into DHA and said it was proven by a guy from Harvard. What do you think? Sources?

4 Answers

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    I'm going with Daisy on this, I was going to look up the source, but she did it already.

    It DOES convert, but to a small amount that it's negligible, so you're better off eating the algae supplements than relying on your body's conversion process.

    The jury's still out on whether it's beneficial (see articles), but just take the DHA supplements.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

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  • ?
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    No. If the conversion is made at all, it's an inefficient process. Here's a link which has a link to the actual research: http://www.omega-3centre.com/index.php?option=com_...

    In fact, too much ALA has been tied to eye problems. From Veganhealth:

    "...A 2005 analysis (12) of a group of women from the Nurse's Health Study found that both the highest intakes of ALA and LA were associated with an increase in lens opacity, which can lead to cataracts. Interestingly, neither total fat, animal fat, vegetable fat, saturated fat, nor trans fats were associated with an increase in lens opacity. For ALA, the risk ratio was 2.2 (1.2, 4.5) for about 1.26 g compared to .86 g per day.

    A 2007 analysis (13) of the same group found that the highest category of ALA intake (about 1.26 g per day) was linked to a 16% increase in eye lens nuclear density compared to the lowest category (about .84 g per day) over five years. In this case, no other fat category was associated with an increase, including total, animal, vegetable, saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, trans, LA, arachidonic acid, or long chain omega-3s.

    A 2007 analysis (14) of men and women in the Nurse's Health Study over the age of 50 years old found that those in the highest fifth of ALA intake had an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The risk ratio was 1.41 (1.00, 1.98). Rough estimates of intake are shown in Table 10..."

    Link: http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/omega3#veganDH...

    The simple fact continues to be that humans get some nutrients better/easier from animals than from plants. Don't make yourself sick trying to prove otherwise.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    No, just LAA or AAL but not EPA or DHA.

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