Linoleic Acid

What's

Linoleic Acid (LA) is a kind of polyunsaturated fat, specifically an omega-6 fatty acid, that your body can't make by itself. This means it's a crucial nutrient that you need to get from the food you eat. LA can be found in many vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and meat. It plays an important role in your body's overall health, helping to build and maintain cell membranes, support skin health, and assist in creating molecules that control inflammation and immune responses. In short, LA is a key component in keeping your body healthy and strong.

If Your Levels Are High

Elevated levels of Linoleic Acid (LA) might mean that you're consuming a lot of foods rich in this omega-6 fatty acid, like vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and certain meats. It could also suggest that your body isn't breaking down LA efficiently, which might be due to genetic factors or other health issues. Some medications, especially those that impact how your body processes fats, could also lead to higher LA levels. Having too much LA in your system might throw off the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which is important for maintaining good health.

Symptoms of High Levels

Symptoms of high levels of LA may not be immediately noticeable, as they often relate to long-term health issues rather than acute conditions. However, some individuals might experience inflammation, skin issues, or changes in mood.

If Your Levels are Low

Low levels of Linoleic Acid (LA) might mean that your diet doesn't have enough of this essential nutrient, which can be found in foods like vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and some meats. It's also possible that your body isn't absorbing nutrients properly, which could be due to certain medications that affect fat absorption or health conditions like metabolic disorders and liver diseases. In any case, it's important to make sure you're getting enough LA to keep your body healthy and strong.

Symptoms of Low Levels

Symptoms of low levels of LA may include dry and itchy skin, hair loss, and slow wound healing.

See References

Test for

Linoleic Acid

NutrEval® Plasma by Genova Diagnostics

Whole Blood

Urine

Serum

Plasma

The NutrEval® Plasma evaluates a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other biomarkers to determine nutritional deficiencies and imbalances. This test cannot be ordered for patients under 2 years of age.

NutrEval® FMV by Genova Diagnostics

Whole Blood

Urine

Serum

The NutrEval® FMV evaluates a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other biomarkers to determine nutritional deficiencies and imbalances. This test cannot be ordered for patients under two years of age.

Metabolomix+ Add-On: Bloodspot Essential & Metabolic Fatty Acids by Genova Diagnostics

Blood Spot

This test measures fatty acids to determine cardiovascular risk. It can only be added to the Metabolomix+. This test cannot be ordered for patients under two years of age.

Omega-3 and -6 Fatty Acids by Access Med Labs

Whole Blood

This test measures Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are used to monitor patients on omega-3 supplementation/therapy to determine treatment efficacy.

Cellular Nutrition Assay by Cell Science Systems

Whole Blood

The Full Cellular Nutrition Assay combines the Cellular Micronutrient Assay and the Redox/Antioxidant Protection Assay to provide a personalized assessment of a patient's nutritional needs. This test cannot be ordered for patients under 16 years of age.

CONTENTS

What is it?

High Levels

Low Levels

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