What Is Parinaric Acid (18:4) & What Foods Can I Find It In?

3D-model of Parinaric acid (18:4) (src)

Parinaric acid, 18:4, is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Parinaric acid has fluorescent properties.

Parinaric acid can also be toxic to monocytic leukemia cells.

Which suggests that the cytotoxic action may help stop rapidly growing malignant tumors.

Table of Contents

Parinaric Acid Has Fluorescent Properties

18:4, parinaric acid, also called octadecatetraenoic acid.

It is a polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acid. (source )

As parinaric acid has fluorescent properties it's commonly used as a molecular probe in the study of biomembranes. (source )

Synthesize From ALA

It is possible for the body to synthesize parinaric acid from alpha-linoleic acid ALA, if it is needed. (source )

alpha-Linoleic acid is needed for normal fatty acid synthesis.

Foods You Can Find Parinaric Acid In

You find parinaric acid mostly in oils from american indian and alaska native food, seafood, and nuts and seeds.

Examples of food sources include

Foods in our nutrition tool

You can find regularly updated, top ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.

If you are interested in what foods contain the most parinaric acid, we recommend you visit our tool.

Here's our top ranked list of foods that contain Parinaric Acid (18:4).

Sara Niemelä

co-founder Care Omnia, Head Content Creator

Author Image of Sara Niemelä

Nutrition is my passion. I've spent thousands upon thousands of hours reading, analyzing, categorizing and comparing research studies.

I’m a wife and a mother of three. I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, and spending time with my family.