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Concept
Omega-6 fatty acid
Summary
Omega-6 fatty acids (also referred to as ω-6 fatty acids or n-6 fatty acids) are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon-carbon double bond in the n-6 position, that is, the sixth bond, counting from the methyl end.
One review found that an increased intake of omega‐6 fatty acids has been shown to reduce total serum cholesterol and may reduce myocardial infarction (heart attack). The same review found no significant change in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. A 2021 review found that omega-6 supplements do not affect the risk of CVD morbidity and mortality. In contrast, the oxidized linoleic acid hypothesis states that the growing amount of linoleic acid (LA) accumulation in adipose tissue, specifically low density lipoproteins (LDL), induces atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, and a study done in 2015 found that LA in adipose tissue increased 136% between 1959 and 2008.
Another source outlines the differences of how omega-6 and omega-3 are processed in the body, and states that the ratio should not exceed 10:1, and another source addresses the link between a high ratio and infertility in men. A study involving Drosophila shows an increase in lipid mediators for the pathway of inflammatory responses with omega-6, and unaltered changes with omega-3. Although Drosophila lack prostaglandins, in humans, omega-6 activates an increase in prostaglandin production, and other key mediators of inflammation. A study in 2003 showed that replacing omega-6 with omega-3 within cell membranes can protect the cell against inflammation.
Dietary sources of omega-6 fatty acids include:
poultry
eggs
nuts
hulled sesame seeds
cereals
durum wheat
whole-grain breads
pumpkin seeds
hemp seeds
Vegetable oils are a major source of omega-6 linoleic acid. Worldwide, more than 100 million metric tons of vegetable oils are extracted annually from palm fruits, soybean seeds, rape seeds, and sunflower seeds, providing more than 32 million metric tons of omega-6 linoleic acid and 4 million metric tons of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid.
Official source
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