Category: lipid
Aliases: ARA, AA, 20:4 ω-6
Primary ω-6 precursor for the 2-series prostaglandins/thromboxanes (COX pathway), 4-series leukotrienes (5-LOX), and multiple HETEs (12-/15-LOX, CYP450) — the canonical pro-inflammatory eicosanoid substrate. Incorporated into membrane phospholipids (sn-2 position) and released by phospholipase A2 on stimulus. Supplementation at modest doses raises plasma and RBC ARA but produces limited downstream eicosanoid signal because release is demand-driven; high-dose bodybuilding use (~1.5 g/day) aims to amplify training-induced prostaglandin signalling.
PO: 72h