Pinolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms, belonging to the omega-six family. In its structure three double bonds of the cis type can be seen, located in positions 6, 10 and 13 (one always begins to count from the methyl end).
Rather rare are the natural sources of pinolenic acid, except for the seeds of conifers contained in the strobilus, commonly called cone or pinecone. Particularly rich in pinolenic acid (15%), is the Korean pine seed oil ( Pinus Koraiensis ), from which it is extracted and marketed as an antifame supplement. In particular, more than pinolenic acid itself, a patented product known as PinnoThin TM is often marketed, with a pinolenic acid content of 14% and a significant richness in other polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.
The antifame action of pinolenic acid is linked to its ability to stimulate the secretion of Cholecystokinin (CCK) and Glucagon Like Peptide 1 (GLP1).
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a hormone secreted mainly from the proximal portion of the small intestine. Promotes the digestion of food lipids and proteins, representing an important sign of satiety. The secretion of cholecystokinin is in fact stimulated by fats (especially long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids) and protides from chyme (a mixture of partially digested foods that comes out of the stomach). This is why a fat-rich meal exerts a strong satiating power.
Glucagon Like Peptide 1 (GLP1) is a hormone mainly secreted by the distal portion of the small intestine (ileum), following a meal rich in carbohydrates or fats; it is known to be a potent stimulator of insulin release and appetite suppressant centrally.
Due to these properties, pinolenic acid and the various products based on Korean pine and PinnoThin ™ could prove particularly useful even in the presence of insulin resistance, a kind of pre-diabetic condition favored by overweight.
The beneficial effects of pinolenic acid have been recorded in doses of PinnoThin ™ equal to 3 grams, to be taken in conjunction with meals or in the thirty minutes that precede them.
