Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
omega-6

omega-6

4.7
A type of fat found in plant oils that the body needs
  • noun
  • /oʊˈmeɪɡə sɪks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : omega-6
  • Research suggests that omega-6 plays a role in both promoting and reducing inflammation.
  • omega-6 fatty acid
  • omega-6 fatty
  • omega-6 fats

Examples

  • She takes omega-6 supplements daily.

  • Eating too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 can lead to an imbalance in the body.

  • Many vegetable oils are rich sources of omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential to human health.

  • The omega-6 fatty acids are essential for health.

  • For optimal health, our cell membranes must have both omega-6s and omega-3s.

  • Oils that are high in omega-6 include sunflower seed and safflower seed oils.

  • Research suggests that women who eat more linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid found in foods like walnuts and sunflower seeds, are less likely to have dry skin.

Synonyms

omega-6 fatty acid
vsomega-6
  • Specialized
4.2

A type of fat in foods the body must get from the diet

emphasizes common presence in plant oils and general dietary importance

Surface Forms

omega-6 singular
omega-6s plural

Morphology

omega-6 = omega + 6 (semi-transparent) = omega + 6

The form 'omega-6' transparently shows it is the 'omega' class with position '6', but the full technical meaning about the double-bond location is specialized knowledge not inferable by a general B1 learner.

Etymology

Omega-6 begins with omega, the Greek letter that means 'end', because scientists name fats by counting from the chain's end, and the '6' shows the first double bond is six carbons away. So, omega-6 tells you where an important chemical link is in the fat, which helps explain how these fats behave in food and in your body.