Alpha-Linolenic Acid and heart risk factors
What 2 graded rows on alpha-linolenic acid agree on for heart risk factors, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Alpha-Linolenic Acid page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Alpha-Linolenic Acid page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Alpha-Linolenic Acid and heart risk factors
2 rows · 3,813 peopleSplit. 1 row found an improvement and 1 had mixed results.
- BGrade B× 1
- DGrade D× 1
- Rows
- 2
- Trials
- 48
- At least: a review without a trial count
- People
- 3,813
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
What the rows share
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade B, is a meta-analysis of 2,630 people (2021) and found an improvement.
The rows run from 1,183 to 2,630 people, published from 2021 to 2023: 2 pooled reviews and 0 single studies.
The rows
1 improved · 1 mixed- BGrade BBlood lipids (triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol) · Improved
Meta-analysis, 47 studies · n 2,630 · 2021 · Adults in 47 randomized controlled trials (healthy and with hyperlipidemia or hyperglycemia)
Varied across trials (dose-response estimated per 1 g/day) · Varied across trials
ALA lowered triglycerides (−0.10 mmol/L), total cholesterol (−0.14 mmol/L), LDL cholesterol (−0.13 mmol/L) and VLDL cholesterol versus control, with no change in HDL. Effects were larger in Asian participants and in people with high lipids or glucose.
Row on the Alpha-Linolenic Acid page · PubMed 32643951 (opens PubMed)
- DGrade DInflammation, blood fats and blood pressure in overweight or obesity · Mixed
Meta-analysis · n 1,183 · 2023 · Adults with overweight or obesity (19 RCTs)
Varied across trials · Varied across trials
ALA lowered CRP, TNF-α, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure slightly versus placebo, but raised LDL cholesterol; no effect on IL-6, diastolic pressure, total or HDL cholesterol.
Row on the Alpha-Linolenic Acid page · PubMed 37778442 (opens PubMed)