Korean pine and pinolenic acid

Pinolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms, belonging to the omega-six family. In its structure we can see three double bonds of the cis type, located in positions 6, 10 and 13 (we always start counting from the methyl end).

Rather rare are the natural sources of pinolenic acid, except for the seeds of the conifers contained in the strobilus, commonly called cone or pine cone. Particularly rich in pinolenic acid (15%), Korean Pine Seed Oil (Pinus Koraiensis), from which it is extracted and marketed as an anti-hunger supplement. In particular, more than pinolenic acid itself, a patented product known as PinnoThinTM is often marketed, with a pinolenic acid content of 14% and a significant richness in other polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.

The anti-hunger 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 by the proximal portion of the small intestine. It favors the digestion of dietary lipids and proteins, representing an important signal of satiety. The secretion of cholecystokinin is in fact stimulated by fats (especially polyunsaturated fatty acids long-chain) and proteins from chyme (pulp of partially digested food that escapes from the stomach.) This is why a high-fat meal has a strong satiating power.

Glucagon Like Peptide 1 (GLP1) is a hormone secreted mainly from the distal portion of the small intestine (ileus), following a meal rich in carbohydrates or fats; it is known to be a powerful stimulator of insulin release and suppressor of the " appetite centrally.

For these properties, pinolenic acid and various products based on Korean pine and PinnoThin ™, could prove to be particularly useful even in the presence of insulin resistance, a sort of pre-diabetic condition favored by overweight.

The beneficial effects of pinolenic acid have been recorded at doses of PinnoThin ™ equal to 3 grams, to be taken concomitantly with meals or in the thirty minutes preceding them.