Arachidonic acid (AA)

What is AA?

AA is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. It is an integral part of the fat that forms cell membranes and is abundant in the brain, muscles and liver.¹ AA plays a key role in the structure and function of bodily tissues, immune health and development. There is strong evidence that AA plays a vital role in supporting child growth, as well as in healthy brain and eye development.²

AA is obtained from foods such as meat, poultry, seafood and eggs.¹ The body also has the ability to produce AA from linoleic acid, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) found in nuts, fatty seeds and vegetable oils.¹

Benefits of AA

Supports kid’s growth and development^1,2

Supports immune health¹

Supports muscle development and growth¹

As a fundamental part of the cell structure, AA plays an important role in childhood growth and development.¹ In particular, AA has been shown to be crucial in brain and eye development.²

AA and its by-products help promote and control the body's immune responses, which is vital for protecting against infections from parasites and allergens.¹

Recommended dietary intake (RDI) of AA

There is no RDI for AA in Australia.

Some studies have shown that the standard dietary intake of AA for healthy adults is 100–250 mg/day.³ For young children, it has been recommended that the AA content of the diet should be 0.10–0.25% of energy consumption (around 102–258 mg/day).*^4,5

*Recommended by the Belgium Health Council, 2003.

Sources of AA

Good sources of AA include seafood, poultry, meat and eggs.¹

Signs and consequences of AA deficiency

Impaired growth^6,7

Hair loss⁷

Infertility⁷

Bleeding disorders⁷

Dry and scaly skin^6,7

A lack of dietary Omega-6 or Omega-3 fatty acids can result in a condition know as essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD). EFAD is characterised by impaired growth, hair loss, infertility, bleeding disorders, and dry, scaly skin.^6,7

EFAD is rare in the general population but can manifest in premature infants, in patients with chronic malnutrition or those receiving prolonged courses of parenteral nutrition (feeding intravenously) without sufficient fat calories.⁷

Did you know?

Multiple aspects of brain metabolism, function and structure depends on having adequate brain concentrations of AA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).¹

Tags:

BONE HEALTH

NUTRITION ACADEMY

IMMUNITY

Food for Special Medical Purposes. Use only under medical supervision.

AA: arachidonic acid. EFAD: essential fatty acid deficiency. PUFA: polyunsaturated fatty acid.

References: 1. Tallima H, El Ridi R. J Adv Res. 2017;11:33–41. 2. Hadley KB, et al. Nutrients. 2016;8(4):216. 3. Kawashima H. Lipids Health Dis. 2019;18(1):101. 4. Sioen I, et al. Br J Nutr. 2007;98(4):819-25. 5. Forsyth S, et al. Ann Nutr Metab. 2016;69(1):64–74. 6. National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Government Department of Health Ageing, New Zealand Ministry of Health, Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council. (2006). 7. Le HD, et al. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2009;81(2–3):165–170.

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The information on this website is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Always consult your healthcare professional for medical advice.

Arachidonic acid (AA)