a polyunsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms; the only omega-3 fatty acid found in vegetable products; it is most abundant in canola oil; a fatty acid essential for nutrition
ALA, 18:3,w-3. Fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and three double bonds, the first of which (counting from the terminal methyl end) lies between carbon 3 and carbon 4.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid. It is a component of many common vegetable oils and is important to human nutrition.