Nervonic 24:1 n9

Optimal result: 1.1 – 1.8 wt %

Genova Diagnostics

By Healthmatters Editorial Team

Peer-reviewed sources

Increased dietary intake of cooking fats, vegetable oil, or borage oil can elevate NA levels. NA is elevated in clinical conditions marked by impaired white matter or altered desaturation enzyme activity such as major depressive disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.

Due to its effects on overall lipid metabolism, higher levels of NA are also associated with improved metabolic parameters including blood glucose, insulin, and glucose tolerance. In animal studies, it has been shown that NA might play a role in treating obesity and obesity-related complications.

Decreased intake of dietary sources and low levels of oleic acid may result in low NA. Lack of vitamin and mineral cofactors, or a SNP in the delta-9-desaturase enzyme, may also contribute to lower levels.

Clinically, low levels of NA results in a decreased ability to maintain or develop myelin in the brain. In fact, low levels may predict psychosis in schizophrenia. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may offset risks conferred by low levels of NA in certain conditions. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is thought to be an autoimmune reaction to myelin. A defect in the biosynthesis of NA causing lower NA levels may lead to breakdown of myelin which triggers the onset of the autoimmune response. Use of NA as nutritional support in MS is being studied.

Low levels of NA have been found to be an independent predictor of mortality in cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

Nervonic acid (NA) is an omega-9 MUFA with a 24-carbon backbone and one double bond (24:1n9). It is a very important fatty acid in the white matter of the brain and is responsible for nerve cell myelin biosynthesis. There are small amounts of NA in cooking fats, vegetable oils and borage oil. It can also be synthesized in the body by elongating oleic acid (which is essentially desaturated stearic acid). NA is essential for the growth and maintenance of the brain and peripheral nervous tissue enriched with sphingomyelin.

References:

- Kageyama Y, Kasahara T, Nakamura T, et al. Plasma Nervonic Acid Is a Potential Biomarker for Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017;21(3):207-215.

- Astarita G, Jung K-M, Vasilevko V, et al. Elevated stearoylCoA desaturase in brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e24777.

- Keppley LJW, Walker SJ, Gademsey AN, et al. Nervonic acid limits weight gain in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. The FASEB Journal. 2020;34(11):15314-15326.

- Fox TE, Bewley MC, Unrath KA, et al. Circulating sphingolipid biomarkers in models of type 1 diabetes. Journal of lipid research. 2011;52(3):509-517.

- Yamazaki Y, Kondo K, Maeba R, Nishimukai M, Nezu T, Hara H. The proportion of nervonic acid in serum lipids is associated with serum plasmalogen levels and metabolic syndrome. Journal of Oleo Science. 2014;63(5):527-537.

- Peters BD, Machielsen MWJ, Hoen WP, et al. Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Concentration Predicts Myelin Integrity in Early-Phase Psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin. 2012;39(4):830-838.

- Sargent J, Coupland K, Wilson R. Nervonic acid and demyelinating disease. Medical hypotheses. 1994;42(4):237-242.

- Shearer GC, Carrero JJ, Heimbürger O, Barany P, Stenvinkel P. Plasma fatty acids in chronic kidney disease: nervonic acid predicts mortality. Journal of Renal Nutrition. 2012;22(2):277-283.

- Delgado GE, Krämer BK, Lorkowski S, März W, von Schacky C, Kleber ME. Individual omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acids and mortality—The Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study. Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 2017;11(1):126-135.e125.

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