Abstract
A study was conducted to investigate the in vivo oxidation of α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid as an energy substrates. Rats received an intravenous infusion of 1- [14C] -α-linolenic acid and 1 [14C] -linoleic acid for 3h. Cumulative excretion of expired 14CO2 for 24h was significantly higher after infusion of α-linolenic acid (66.7±10.6%) than affter linoleic acid (49.3±5.6%). Radioactivity in the tissue at 24h after infusion was 1-2% in the liver, <0.5% in the adipase tissue, and <0.1% in the plasma, spleen and muscle. The radioactivity in the liver and adipose tissue was significantly lower after infusion of α-linolenic acid. Fram these resuits, it is suggested that α-linolenic acid is preferentially oxidized and utilized as an energy substrate compared with linoleic acid.
