Evidence for nonessentiality of linolenic acid in the diet of the rat
Tinoco, J.; Williams, M.A.; Hincenbergs, I.; Lyman, R.L.
Journal of Nutrition 101(7): 937-945
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 5092241 Document Number: 42456
Female weanling Long-Evans rats were given a diet with 1.25% methyl linoleate as the only source of fatty acids. Control rats had a diet with 1.0% methyl linoleate and 0.25% methyl linolenate. Rats in both groups gave birth to normal litters and the pups were reared on the diet containing linoleate only. Both males and females were fertile and produced normal litters. Supplementation of the diet of those young with linolenate did not alter their growth rate.