The lack of increases in plasma EPA and DHA concentrations observed after administration of both
Entrox-coated and non-coated ALA products were in agreement with previous reports showing that in healthy
adults, even long-term supplementation with ALA usually produces little increases in serum EPA and
DHA [14]. It has been postulated that slow formation of EPA and DHA might occur due to suppression of o-3
conversion pathway by excess of LA, a competitive substrate for elongation/desaturation enzymes. This
mechanism could be common in Western societies, which consume diets relatively rich in LA and poor in
ALA, and therefore have large reserves of LA in body fat. According to another recent report, the inefficient
conversion of ALA to longer chain o-3 fatty acids observed in the steady state might result from its high
rate of oxidation and from its substantial utilization by skin [5].