Omega-6 fatty acid

For an explanation of n and numerical nomenclature (such as n−6 or 18:2), see [[:Nomenclature of fatty acids]].

The chemical structure of linoleic acid, a common n−6 fatty acid found in many vegetable oils.

n−6 fatty acids (popularly referred to as ω−6 fatty acids or omega-6 fatty acids) are a family of unsaturated fatty acids which have in common a 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 bind to diverse receptors found in every tissue of the body. The conversion of tissue arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) to n-6 prostaglandin and n-6 leukotriene hormones provides many targets for pharmaceutical drug development and treatment to diminish excessive n-6 actions in atherosclerosis, asthma, arthritis, vascular disease, thrombosis, immune-inflammatory processes and tumor proliferation. Competitive interactions with the n−3 fatty acids affect the relative storage, mobilization, conversion and action of the n-3 and n-6 eicosanoid precursors. (See Essential fatty acid interactions for more information.)

Key n−6 fatty acids

Linoleic acid (18:2, n−6), the shortest-chained n−6 fatty acid, is an essential fatty acid. Arachidonic acid (20:4) is a physiologically significant n−6 fatty acid and is the precursor for prostaglandins and other physiologically active molecules.

Negative health effects

Some medical research suggests that excessive levels of n−6 fatty acids, relative to n−3 fatty acids, may increase the probability of a number of diseases and depression.

Modern Western diets typically have ratios of n−6 to n−3 in excess of 10 to 1, some as high as 30 to 1. The optimal ratio is thought to be 4 to 1 or lower.

Excess n−6 fats interfere with the health benefits of n−3 fats; in part because they compete for the same rate-limiting enzymes. A high proportion of n−6 to n−3 fat in the diet shifts the physiological state in the tissues toward the pathogenesis of many diseases: prothrombotic, proinflammatory and proconstrictive.

Chronic excessive production of n−6 eicosanoids is associated with heart attacks, thrombotic stroke, arrhythmia, arthritis, osteoporosis, inflammation, mood disorders and cancer. Many of the medications used to treat and manage these conditions work by blocking the effects of the potent n−6 fat, arachidonic acid. Many steps in formation and action of n-6 hormones from n-6 arachidonic acid proceed more vigorously than the corresponding competitive steps in formation and action of n-3 hormones from n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid. The COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor medications, used to treat inflammation and pain, work by preventing the COX enzymes from turning arachidonic acid into inflammatory compounds. (See Cyclooxygenase for more information.) The LOX inhibitor medications often used to treat asthma, work by preventing the LOX enzyme from converting arachidonic acid into the leukotrienes. Many of the anti-mania medications used to treat bipolar disorder work by targeting the arachidonic acid cascade in the brain.

Dietary Linoleic Acid Requirement

Adding more controversy to the n−6 fat issue is that the dietary requirement for linoleic acid (the key n−6 fatty acid), has been seriously questioned, because of a significant methodology error discovered by University of Toronto scientist, Stephen Cunnane. Cunnane discovered that the seminal research used to determine the dietary requirement for linoleic acid was based on feeding animals linoleic acid-deficient diets, which were simultaneously deficient in n−3 fats. The n−3 deficiency was not taken into account. The n−6 oils added back systematically to correct the deficiency also contained trace amounts of n−3 fats. Therefore the researchers were inadvertently correcting the n−3 deficiency as well. Ultimately, it took more oil to correct both deficiencies. According to Cunnane, this error overestimates LA requirements by 5 to 15 times.

Dietary sources

The evening primrose flower (O. biennis) produces an oil containing a high content of γ-linolenic acid, a type of n−6 fatty acid.

Four major food oils (palm, soybean, rapeseed and sunflower) provide more than 100 million metric tons annually, providing more than 32 million metric tons of n-6 linoleic acid and 4 million metric tons of n-3 alpha-linolenic acid

• poultry
• eggs
• cereals
• whole-grain breads
• baked goods
• nuts
• most vegetable oils
• evening primrose oil
• borage oil
• blackcurrant seed oil
• linseed oil
• soybean oil
• cottonseed oil
• sunflower seed oil
• corn oil
• safflower oil
• pumpkin seeds

List of n−6 fatty acids

Common name	Lipid name	Chemical name
Linoleic acid	18:2 (n−6)	9,12-octadecadienoic acid
Gamma-linolenic acid	18:3 (n−6)	6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid
Eicosadienoic acid	20:2 (n−6)	11,14-eicosadienoic acid
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid	20:3 (n−6)	8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid
Arachidonic acid	20:4 (n−6)	5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid
Docosadienoic acid	22:2 (n−6)	13,16-docosadienoic acid
Adrenic acid	22:4 (n−6)	7,10,13,16-docosatetraenoic acid
Docosapentaenoic acid	22:5 (n−6)	4,7,10,13,16-docosapentaenoic acid
Calendic acid	18:3 (n−6)	8E,10E,12Z-octadecatrienoic acid

See also

• Essential fatty acid interactions
• Essential nutrients
• n−3 fatty acid
• n−9 fatty acid

References

Additional sources

• Tokar, Steve (2005-09-02). "Omega-6 fatty acids cause prostate tumor cell growth in culture". Medical News Today. MediLexicon International. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• "Brain fatty acid levels linked to depression". News-Medical.Net. AZoNetwork. 2005-05-25. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Tribole, E.F. (2006-03-27). "Excess Omega-6 Fats Thwart Health Benefits from Omega-3 Fats". British Medical Journal Rapid Responses to Hooper, et. al., 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-23. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |journal= (help)