Application Notes:
Eicosatrienoic acid (all cis-5,8,11) is a product of oleic acid through D5 and D6 desaturation and elongation1 and it is one of
the few polyunsaturated fatty acids produced de novo by animals. It is found mostly in cartilage, umbilical cords, fetuses,
infants, and low vascular tissues. Eicosatrienoic acid (all cis-5,8,11) accumulates in essential fatty acid deficient animals and
this is likely what accounts for where it is found. It has been found to suppresses osteoblast, but not osteoclast, activity in
some studies. This may help in preventing calcification of fetal cartilage and lead to new therapeutic treatments.2
Eicosatrienoic acid (all cis-5,8,11) also has anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting leukotrienes and is an inhibitor of platelet
aggregation.3
References:
1. H. Kawashima et al. “Production of 5,8,11-Eicosatrienoic Acid (Mead Acid) by a D6 Desaturation Activity-Enhanced Mutant Derived from a D12
Desaturase-Defective Mutant of an Arachidonic Acid-Producing Fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 63(5) pp.
1820-1825, 1997
2. T. Hamazaki et al. “The Depressive Effects of 5,8,11-Eicosatrienoic Acid (20:3n-9) on Osteoblasts” Lipids, Vol. 44 pp. 97-102, 2009
3. M. Lagarde et al. “Potentiating Effect of 5,8,11-Eicosatrienoic Acid on Human Platelet Aggregation” Lipids, Vol. 18(4) pp. 291-294, 1983