The effect of alpha-linolenic acid on retinal function in mammals

The retinal function of several different species is compromised by a dietary deficiency of α-linolenic acid. A review of the literature revealed that diets containing less than 0.1 g/100g diet as α-linolenic acid could not sustain retinal docosahexaenoic acid levels over a prolonged period and that such diets were associated with a reduced response of the retina to light. In these studies the median α-linoleinic acid intake of control animals was 1.25g/100 g diet. A study on the comparative ability of dietary α-linolenic acid and dietary docosahexaenoic acid to provide for retinal docosahexaenoic acid in the guinea pig found that α-linolenic acid was only approximately 10% as effective as docosahexaenoic acid in this regard.