I found some studies with quite different results
1) http://www.jlr.org/c...t/42/8/1257.pdf
Summary:
"Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have just completed a
study designed to determine just how much ALA is actually converted to
EPA in the body. Their study included eight healthy subjects who were
fed a standard diet for three weeks and then given one gram of ALA
labeled with an isotope tracer. The diet was beef-based in order to
avoid extraneous sources of EPA and DHA. The researchers measured blood
plasma concentrations of ALA, EPA and DHA 8, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168
hours after ingestion of the labeled ALA.
The results show that only about 0.2 per cent of the ALA (2 mg) was
actually converted to EPA. In contrast, about 23 per cent of the EPA
was available for conversion to DHA. The researchers also noted that
the half-life (the time it takes to reduce initial concentration by 50
per cent) of ALA in blood plasma was quite low at about one hour. In
comparison, the half-life of EPA was 67 hours and that of DHA 20 hours.
The researchers conclude that ALA is not a viable source of EPA and DHA
and cannot replace fish and fish oils in the diet."
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm....3?dopt=Abstract
http://www.ncbi.nlm....0?dopt=Abstract
Summary:
"The capacity for conversion of ALA to DHA is higher in women than men. Studies of ALA metabolism indicate that approximately 8% of dietary ALA is converted to EPA and 0-4% is converted to DHA in healthy young men. In healthy young women, approximately 21% of dietary ALA is converted to EPA and 9% is converted to DHA"
What do you think about that?
