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Fatty Acid

Arachidonic Acid

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Arachidonic Acid. Omega-6 for muscle inflammation signaling.

How it works. Eicosanoid precursor; mTOR activator.

What the research supports. 1 graded claims. Strongest: Increases muscle thickness (moderate).

How much to take. Typical dose: 1.5 g.

Side effects and interactions. 1 medication interaction listed. No serious side effects listed at normal doses.

Stacking. Pairs well with Creatine monohydrate, Whey or EAAs.

Common forms. Available as Capsule or softgel, Powder, Sublingual or buccal, Liposomal liquid.

Key studies. 8 studies cited. The strongest are listed with links to PubMed.

Community. Experiences from people who have tried Arachidonic Acid. Anecdotes are not medical advice.

Arachidonic Acid. Omega-6 for muscle inflammation signaling.

Molecular structureC20H32O2 · 304.5 g/mol

What it is

Omega-6 for muscle inflammation signaling.

Food sources

Endogenously produced or biosynthesized moleculeStandardized pharmaceutical- or food-grade supplementCombined with cofactors that improve absorption or activity

Goals

Muscle Growth

How it works

Eicosanoid precursor; mTOR activator.

Pathways

  • Eicosanoid precursor
  • mTOR activator

Effects

  • ↑muscle thickness increases

What the research supports

Increases muscle thicknessmoderate

Strong: consistent results across large trials or meta-analyses. Moderate: several trials, mostly positive. Limited: small or mixed studies. Preclinical: animal or cell research only.

Typical dose
1.5 g
TimingConsistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With foodEither with or without food.
Best formMost evidence is based on the capsule or softgel form.
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Side effects & interactions

Common side effects

  • Inflammation concerns

Medication interactions

Prescription medications (general)minor

Always disclose Arachidonic Acid use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.

Check any supplement–medication combination with your pharmacist before starting.

Combines with

Pairs well

  • Creatine monohydrateFoundational support for strength, power, and lean mass.
  • Whey or EAAsProvides amino acid substrate for muscle protein synthesis.

Common forms

  • Capsule or softgel
  • Powder
  • Sublingual or buccal
  • Liposomal liquid

Key studies

8 studies cited in total.

PubMed: Arachidonic Acid — Increases muscle thickness ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Arachidonic Acid and "Increases muscle thickness". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Arachidonic Acid — randomized controlled trial ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Arachidonic Acid and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

PubMed: Arachidonic Acid — meta-analysis ↗
Systematic review · PubMed (NLM) · 2026

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Arachidonic Acid and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Discussion

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