group. (This form is also sometimes called a
s are all omega-3 and -6 methylene-interrupted fatty acids.
| Common name |
Lipid name |
Chemical name |
align=center| Omega-3 fatty acidn−3 fatty acids are a family of unsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon–carbon double bond in the n−3 position; that is, the third bond from the methyl end of the fatty acid.Important nutritionally essential n−3 fatty acids are: α-linolenic acid , eicosapentaenoic acid...
s
|
16:3 (n-3) |
all-cis 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid |
Alpha-linolenic acidα-Linolenic acid is an organic compound found in many common vegetable oils. Systematically, it is named all-cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 18:3 ....
(ALA) |
18:3 (n-3) |
all-cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid |
| Stearidonic acid Stearidonic acid is an ω-3 essential fatty acid, sometimes called moroctic acid. It is biosynthesized from alpha-linolenic acid by the enzyme delta-6-desaturase. Natural sources of this fatty acid are the seed oils of hemp, blackcurrant and echium, and the cyanobacterium spirulina....
(STD) |
18:4 (n-3) |
all-cis-6,9,12,15,-octadecatetraenoic acid |
| Eicosatrienoic acid (ETE) |
20:3 (n-3) |
all-cis-11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid |
| Eicosatetraenoic acid Eicosatetraenoic acid, ETA, designates any straight chain 20:4 fatty acid.Two isomers, both of them essential fatty acids, are of particular interest:* all-cis 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid is an ω-6 fatty acid with the trivial name arachidonic acid...
(ETA) |
20:4 (n-3) |
all-cis-8,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid |
Eicosapentaenoic acidEicosapentaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 20:5. It also has the trivial name timnodonic acid...
(EPA) |
20:5 (n-3) |
all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid |
Docosapentaenoic acidDocosapentaenoic acid designates any straight chain 22:5 fatty acid.Two isomers are of particular interest* all-cis-7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid is an ω-3 fatty acid with the trivial name clupanodonic acid, commonly called DPA. It is an intermediary between eicosapentaenoic acid and...
(DPA, Clupanodonic acid) |
22:5 (n-3) |
all-cis-7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid |
| Docosahexaenoic acid Docosahexaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid. In chemical structure, DHA is a carboxylic acid with a 22-carbon chain and six cis double bonds; the first double bond is located at the third carbon from the omega end...
(DHA) |
22:6 (n-3) |
all-cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid |
| Tetracosapentaenoic acid |
24:5 (n-3) |
all-cis-9,12,15,18,21-tetracosapentaenoic acid |
| Tetracosahexaenoic acid (Nisinic acid) |
24:6 (n-3) |
all-cis-6,9,12,15,18,21-tetracosahexaenoic acid |
| Common name |
Lipid name |
Chemical name |
align=center|Omega-6 fatty acidn−6 fatty acids are a family of unsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon–carbon double bond in the n−6 position, that is, the sixth bond from the end of the fatty acid.The biological effects of the n−6 fatty acids are largely mediated by their conversion to n-6 eicosanoids that...
s
| Linoleic acid Linoleic acid is an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid. In physiological literature, it is called 18:2. Chemically, linoleic acid is a carboxylic acid with an 18-carbon chain and two cis double bonds; the first double bond is located at the sixth carbon from the omega...
|
18:2 (n-6) |
all-cis-9,12-octadecadienoic acid |
| Gamma-linolenic acid γ-Linolenic acid is a fatty acid found primarily in vegetable oils. It is sold as a dietary supplement for treating problems with inflammation and auto-immune diseases...
(GLA) |
18:3 (n-6) |
all-cis-6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid |
| Eicosadienoic acid |
20:2 (n-6) |
all-cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid |
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acidDihomo-γ-linolenic acid is a 20-carbon ω−6 fatty acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 20:3 . Chemically, DGLA is a carboxylic acid with a 20-carbon chain and three cis double bonds; the first double bond is located at the sixth carbon from the omega end. DGLA is the...
(DGLA) |
20:3 (n-6) |
all-cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid |
Arachidonic acidArachidonic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid 20:4.It is the counterpart to the saturated arachidic acid found in peanut oil, Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is an omega-6 fatty acid 20:4(ω-6).It is the counterpart to the saturated arachidic acid found in peanut oil, Arachidonic acid (AA,...
(AA) |
20:4 (n-6) |
all-cis-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid |
| Docosadienoic acid |
22:2 (n-6) |
all-cis-13,16-docosadienoic acid |
| Adrenic acid Docosatetraenoic acid designates any straight chain 22:4 fatty acid. One isomer is of particular interest:...
|
22:4 (n-6) |
all-cis-7,10,13,16-docosatetraenoic acid |
Docosapentaenoic acidDocosapentaenoic acid designates any straight chain 22:5 fatty acid.Two isomers are of particular interest* all-cis-7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid is an ω-3 fatty acid with the trivial name clupanodonic acid, commonly called DPA. It is an intermediary between eicosapentaenoic acid and...
(Osbond acid) |
22:5 (n-6) |
all-cis-4,7,10,13,16-docosapentaenoic acid |
| Common name |
Lipid name |
Chemical name |
align=center|Omega-9 fatty acidUnder severe conditions of EFA deprivation, mammals will elongate and desaturate oleic acid to make mead acid, . This also occurs to a lesser extent in vegetarians and semi-vegetarians.-Potential negative health effects:...
s, mono- and polysaturated
| Oleic acid Oleic acid is a mono-unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in various animal and vegetable sources. It has the formula CH37CH=CH7COOH)...
† |
18:1 (n-9) |
cis-9-octadecenoic acid |
Eicosenoic acidEicosenoic acid is an monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid found in a variety of plant oils....
† |
20:1 (n-9) |
cis-11-eicosenoic acid |
Mead acidMead acid is an omega-9 fatty acid, first characterized by James F. Mead. Like some other omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids animals can make Mead acid de novo. Its elevated presence in the blood is an indication of essential fatty acid deficiency....
|
20:3 (n-9) |
all-cis-5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid |
Erucic acidErucic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, denoted 22:1 ω-9. It is prevalent in rapeseed, wallflower seed, and mustard seed, making up 40-50% of their oils...
† |
22:1 (n-9) |
cis-13-docosenoic acid |
Nervonic acidNervonic acid is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. Nervonic acid has been identified as important in the biosynthesis of nerve cell myelin...
† |
24:1 (n-9) |
cis-15-tetracosenoic acid |
†MonounsaturatedIn biochemistry and nutrition, monounsaturated fats are fatty acids that have a single double bond in the fatty acid chain and all of the remainder of the carbon atoms in the chain are single-bonded...
|
| Common name |
Lipid name |
Chemical name |
align=center|Conjugated fatty acidConjugated fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids in which at least one pair of double bonds are separated by only one single bond, as in conjugated linoleic acid:The conjugation results in delocalization of electrons along the system....
s have two or more conjugated double bondsA conjugated system occurs in an organic compound where atoms covalently bond with alternating single and multiple bonds and influence each other to produce a region called electron delocalization. In this region electrons do not belong to a single bond or atom, but rather a group...
Conjugated Linoleic AcidConjugated linoleic acids are a family of at least 28 isomers of linoleic acid found especially in the meat and dairy products derived from ruminants. As the name implies, the double bonds of CLAs are conjugated.-History:...
s (two conjugated double bonds) |
| Rumenic acid Rumenic acid, also known as bovinic acid, is a conjugated linoleic acid found in the fat of ruminants and in dairy products. It is an omega-7 trans fat. Its lipid shorthand name is cis-9, trans-11 18:2 acid....
|
18:2 (n-7) |
9Z,11E-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid |
| |
18:2 (n-6) |
10E,12Z-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid |
| Conjugated Linolenic Acids (three conjugated double bonds) |
α-Calendic acidCalendic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid, named for the pot marigold , from which it is obtained. It is chemically similar to the conjugated linoleic acids; laboratory work suggests it may have similar health benefits.-Biosynthesis:Calendic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid...
|
18:3 (n-6) |
8E,10E,12Z-octadecatrienoic acid |
β-Calendic acidCalendic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid, named for the pot marigold , from which it is obtained. It is chemically similar to the conjugated linoleic acids; laboratory work suggests it may have similar health benefits.-Biosynthesis:Calendic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid...
|
18:3 (n-6) |
8E,10E,12E-octadecatrienoic acid |
| Jacaric acid Jacaric acid is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid. The melting point of this fatty acid is 44 °C. It occurs naturally in the seeds of the Jacaranda mimosifolia which contain about 36% jacaric acid....
|
18:3 (n-6) |
8E,10Z,12E-octadecatrienoic acid |
α-Eleostearic acidEleostearic acid , sometimes called α-eleostearic acid, is a conjugated linolenic acid . It makes up approximately 80% of the fatty acids in tung oil and 60% of bitter gourd oil. Its high degree of unsaturation gives tung oil its properties as a drying oil...
|
18:3 (n-5) |
9Z,11E,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
β-Eleostearic acidEleostearic acid , sometimes called α-eleostearic acid, is a conjugated linolenic acid . It makes up approximately 80% of the fatty acids in tung oil and 60% of bitter gourd oil. Its high degree of unsaturation gives tung oil its properties as a drying oil...
|
18:3 (n-5) |
9E,11E,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
| Catalpic acid Catalpic acid is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid. The melting point of this fatty acid is 32 °C. Catalpic acid occurs naturally in the seeds of Catalpa ovata and Southern Catalpa . Seeds of Catalpa species contain about 40% catalpic acid....
|
18:3 (n-5) |
9Z,11Z,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
Punicic acidPunicic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, 18:3 . It is named for the pomegranate, , and is obtained from pomegranate seed oil....
|
18:3 (n-5) |
9Z,11E,13Z-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
| Other |
| Rumelenic acid |
18:3 (n-3) |
9E,11Z,15E-octadeca-9,11,15-trienoic acid |
| α-Parinaric acid |
18:4 (n-3) |
9E,11Z,13Z,15E-octadeca-9,11,13,15-trienoic acid |
| β-Parinaric acid |
18:4 (n-3) |
all trans-octadeca-9,11,13,15-trienoic acid |
| Bosseopentaenoic acid Bosseopentaenoic acid is a conjugated polyunsaturated fatty acid. Bosseopentaenoic acid can extract from the red coralline algae, Bossiella orbigniana....
|
20:5 (n-6) |
5Z,8Z,10E,12E,14Z-eicosanoic acid |