Plant oils – rich in unsaturated fatty acids
Flaxseed oil, safflower oil and other plant oils that are rich in alpha-linolenic acid contribute to the metabolic formation of various long-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosatetraenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid. Plant oils like flaxseed, safflower and other ALA-rich varieties (for example hemp, rapeseed and chia oil) are important sources of the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which the body converts in small amounts into the long-chain, more biologically active omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to improve blood lipid levels and counteract an unbalanced diet, although the conversion is limited and fish oil is often a more direct source of EPA/DHA.... Read more
Borage oil, 60 capsules
Contents/Net quantity: 0.035 Kilogramm (€597.14 / 1 Kilogramm)
Evening primrose oil, 120 capsules
Contents/Net quantity: 0.085 Kilogramm (€316.47 / 1 Kilogramm)
Jojoba oil, 100 ml
Contents/Net quantity: 0.1 Kilogramm (€79.00 / 1 Kilogramm)
Vitaya Oil with Sea Buckthorn Carotenes, 50 ml
Contents/Net quantity: 0.05 Liter (€620.00 / 1 Liter)
Function of alpha‑linolenic acid (ALA) and gamma‑linolenic acid (GLA)
The essential omega‑3 fatty acid alpha‑linolenic acid (ALA) is crucial for brain function, cardiovascular health and conversion to EPA/DHA, while gamma‑linolenic acid (GLA), as an omega‑6 fatty acid, produces anti‑inflammatory prostaglandins (series 1) that support skin conditions (e.g. atopic dermatitis), hormonal balance (in PMS) and immune regulation. Although both are essential for survival and regulate inflammation and cellular functions, they act via different metabolic pathways and have distinct benefits.
Oils rich in ALA and GLA
- Flaxseed oil: It is one of the best sources with about 50–60% ALA.
- Evening primrose oil contains mainly gamma‑linolenic acid (GLA) at around 8–10%, while alpha‑linolenic acid (ALA) is scarcely present. It also contains about 70–74% linoleic acid. GLA plays an important role in skin health and hormonal regulation because it cannot always be synthesised efficiently from linoleic acid.
- Borage oil is the richest natural source of gamma‑linolenic acid (GLA), an essential omega‑6 fatty acid, with a content of about 18–26%, which is considerably more than the GLA content in evening primrose oil (approx. 7–10%).
- Sea buckthorn pulp oil contains valuable fatty acids such as gamma‑linolenic acid (GLA) and alpha‑linolenic acid (ALA) as well as carotenoids, vitamins (A, E) and antioxidants that help regenerate the skin.
- Hemp oil is an important source of gamma‑linolenic acid (GLA), an anti‑inflammatory omega‑6 fatty acid that supports immune regulation. It is commonly used for skin problems and arthritis. Additionally, hemp oil has an ideal omega‑3 to omega‑6 ratio (approx. 3:1) and contains vitamin E, which increases its nutritional value.