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Use of Pinolenic Acid in the Prevention of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is one of the leading pathological conditions that older women suffer these days. According to one study, more than 44 million Americans are diagnosed with the disease and 68 percent of them are female. Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones' density decreases, resulting in weaker and more fragile bone tissue. People who suffer from this ailment usually are more prone to fractures and severe back pain. Osteoporosis has often been called a "silent disease" because much of the bone loss occurs without symptoms.

  1. Pinolenic Acid: The Basics

    • Pinolenic acid is an isomer of gamma linoleic acid, more commonly known as GLA. The substance is found in Korean pine nuts and other conifer (Taxaceae) seeds. Research has shown that the highest pinolenic acid content is found in Siberian pine nuts and the oil produced from it. The substance has manifested potential weight loss properties by altering a person's appetite. It is believed to stimulate the activity of hunger suppressants, namely glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) and cholecystokinin. Various studies have also shown that pinolenic acid exhibits LDL-lowering properties by increasing hepatic LDL consumption.

    Health Advantages

    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has discovered that two of every three American adults are over their ideal weight, which is an astonishing 66 percent of the entire population. Being overweight can lead to other precipitating conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and others, including osteoporosis. This substance not only helps in digesting fatty compositions also helps you develop a feeling of satiety, or fullness, in the brain. This sensation helps stop that desire to eat and thus lowers caloric intake.

      A recent study has also shown that pinolenic acid can help reduce bone loss among women. After an ovariectomy, pinolenic acid was used to prevent osteoporosis. When the ovaries are removed, estrogen levels diminish over time and this affects a woman's bone density. It is similar to postmenopausal osteoporosis, wherein estrogen levels in a woman's system are significantly decreased due to the cessation of ovarian function. Fatty acids such as pinolenic acid can help in the regulation of T cell function and the production of cytokinine in the blood. Several studies have suggested that the release of cytokinine, coupled with the bone-reabsorbing activity of the immune system cells (T lymphocytes) can play a role in the development of osteoporosis. Pinolenic acid is thought to favorably moderate these substances.

      A study in Japan led to the discovery of pinolenic acid as a substance that can help lower the cholesterol levels in the blood. The study was first conducted in animals that were bred to develop high blood pressure. These animals showed a significant drop in blood pressure after five weeks of ingesting the acid. The study showed that concentrated amounts of pinolenic acid from pine nuts can enhance the uptake of LDL in the liver. This function, along with the appetite-suppression capability, help people maintain an overall healthy body and good bone health.

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