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Fatty acids (essential)

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Essential fatty acids are those which must be obtained from the diet and cannot be synthesized by the body.

The two parent essential fatty acids are:

  • Linoleic acid (LA): an omega-6 fatty acid found in plant oils (such as soybean, corn, and canola oils). It serves as a precursor to longer-chain omega-6 fats like arachidonic acid (AA).
  • α-Linolenic acid (ALA): an omega-3 fatty acid found in plant sources like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. It can be converted in limited quantities into longer-chain omega-3s, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Essential fatty acids should constitute about 4% of the total body energy intake.

Reference

  1. Gutierras D et al. The Role of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation in Human Health. Foods 2025, 14(19), 3299

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