Essential Fatty Acid- Omega 3
Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), meaning they contain more than one cis double bond. In all omega-6 (ω6 or n-6) fatty acids, the first double bond is located between the sixth and seventh carbon atom from the methyl end of the fatty acid.
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Likewise, all omega-3 fatty acids (ω3 or n-3) have at least one double bond between the third and fourth carbon atom counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid. Scientific abbreviations for fatty acids tell the reader something about their chemical structure. For example, the scientific abbreviation for α-linolenic acid (ALA) is 18:3n-3.The first part (18:3) tells the reader that ALA is an 18-carbon fatty acid with three double bonds, while the second part (n-3) tells the reader that the first double bond is in the n-3 position, which defines this fatty acid as an omega-3. Double bonds introduce kinks in the hydrocarbon chain that influence the structure and physical properties of the fatty acid molecule.
Although humans and other mammals can synthesize saturated fatty acids and some monounsaturated fatty acids from carbon groups in carbohydrates and proteins, they lack the delta (Δ) 12 and Δ15 desaturase enzymes necessary to insert a cis double bond at the n-6 or the n-3 position of a fatty acid .
Consequently, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients. The parent fatty acid of the omega-6 series is linoleic acid, and the parent fatty acid of the omega-3 series is ALA .
Humans can synthesize long-chain (20 carbons or more) omega-6 fatty acids, such as dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n-6), from LA and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), from ALA and .
