Omega-6

1. Omega 6 Omega 6 fatty acids are a subgroup of fats, many of which are essential for our bodies. That means that our body cannot synthesize what we need, and we must ingest them in order to function properly. For more information on essential fats, please see our Fats article. Unsaturated Fatty Acid A fatty acid consists of a carboxylic acid group with a long carbon chain tail. In science these are drawn as kinky lines like this: ///////, with the ends and each point representing one carbon atom. In nature, there is usually an even number of carbon atoms in the chain. Unsaturated fatty acids are those carbon chains that contain double bonds. These bonds create “kinks” in the fatty acid chain, which allows for more flexibility. In the case of omega 6 fatty acids, the first double bond is located 6 carbons from the free end of the fatty acid chain. . Eicosanoids In the body, omega 6 fatty acids are converted into eicosanoids that can act as messenger molecules in the body. Each subtype of eicosanoid can be made from either omega 6 or from omega 3 fatty acids. Eicosanoids made from omega 6 fatty acids tend to act as proinflammatory mediators in the body. This means that they promote an increase in immune activity and inflammation in the body. This inflammation has been associated with an increased risk of a number of diseases. In fact, drugs like aspirin and other NSAIDs work by inhibiting certain eicosanoids in the body. . Omega 3:Omega 6 Ratio The body stores omega 3 and omega 6 fats in a similar manner. This means that in many instances, these two fats compete with one another in the body. Also, the eicosanoids made from omega 6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory, while those made from omega-3 fatty acids are much less so. It is theorized that this is one of the reasons that a diet high in omega 6 fatty acids, or a diet relatively low in omega 3 fatty acids can lead to disease. Some diseases associated with this imbalance are: Arteriosclerosis, High Blood Pressure and Arthritis. Eating less omega 6 or increasing Omega 3 intake can help to shift this to a more healthy balance.

2. Types of Omega 6 Fats There are quite a few omega 6 fats, and each is composed of a different number of carbon atoms, and may contain other double bonds that also affect their function. The most common omega 6 fats that affect human health are: linoleic acid (LA), Gamma- Linolenic Acid (GLA), and arachidonic acid (AA). The body can naturally convert these fatty acids from LA to GLA, and then to AA. Most diets naturally include sufficient LA and GLA, so deficiency is extremely rare. Signs of deficiency include scaling skin, and a poor ability to heal skin wounds. AA is used by the body for the formation of Phospholipids, which are the structural molecules used in our cell membranes. AA is actually used by the body to create the pro-inflammatory eicosanoids discussed above. Animal products are an excellent source of AA, and this is the reason that a diet high in animal products is considered to be pro-inflammatory. Sources of Omega 6 There are a wide variety of sources of omega 6 fatty acids, and many are quite commonly found in the North American Diet. Some examples of foods rich in omega 6 fatty acids are: poultry, eggs, avocado, nuts (cashews, pecans, pine nuts, peanuts), whole-grains, vegetable oil, Evening Primrose Oil (EPO), Borage Oil, blackcurrant seed oil, corn oil, Hemp Oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and Spirulina. See the chart below for more specific sources of LA, GLA, and AA.