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Educational profile — independent, evidence-informed overview. Not medical advice.
Talk with your healthcare provider for personalised guidance.

Family & Essentiality

  • Type: Omega‑6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)
  • Essentiality: Essential (cannot be synthesised in humans)
  • Full name: Linoleic acid (LA)

Plain‑Language Summary

Linoleic acid is the primary dietary omega‑6 fatty acid, playing a role in cell membrane structure and serving as a precursor to other omega‑6 fats, including arachidonic acid (AA).

Molecular & Chemical IDs

  • Formula: C18H32O2; CAS 60‑33‑3
  • Structure: 18 carbons, 2 cis double bonds (omega‑6 position)

Functions

  • Structural lipid in cell membranes
  • Precursor for arachidonic acid (AA) and signalling molecules

Absorption & Bioavailability

May increaseMay decrease
Consuming with dietary fat; minimal processing of oilsHigh oxidative damage in overheated oils can degrade LA

Australian NRVs (NHMRC)

  • AI (LA): Men 13 g/day; Women 8 g/day
  • Pregnancy: 10 g/day; Lactation: 12 g/day

Food Sources

  • Plant oils: sunflower, safflower, soybean, corn
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Some animal fats (via feed composition)

Evidence Snapshot

  • 🔬✅ Well‑established: essential fatty acid; needed for normal growth and skin integrity
  • 🧪⚖️ Mixed: high intakes relative to omega‑3 may influence inflammation balance — optimal ratio debated

References & Further Reading

  • NHMRC Nutrient Reference Values — Fats (nrv.gov.au)
  • NIH ODS — Omega‑6 Fatty Acids Fact Sheet (ods.od.nih.gov)

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