omega-6 fatty acid
2
4.2
- noun
- /oʊˈmeɪɡə sɪks ˈfæti ˈæsɪd/
- Specialized
- The typical Western diet is overloaded with omega-6 fatty acids and deficient in omega-3s, upsetting a critical balance.
- omega-6 fatty acid and omega-3 fatty acid
- high in omega-6 fatty acids
Examples
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In our study, the arachidonic acid, a beneficent fatty acid as discussed earlier, was the dominant among all omega-6 fatty acids. # Amino acid profile:
Academic text (2015) -
This oil is low in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, and also contains the beneficial omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Academic text (2015) -
Linoleic acid is an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid, a colorless liquid at room temperature, and is an important element of cottonseed oil.
Academic text (2015) -
Linoleic acid is the most common omega-6 fatty acid in Western-style diets and is found in corn, safflower, and soy oils.
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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
5
4.7
A type of fat found in plant oils that the body needs
2
3.5
A fat from plant oils and fish that is better for the heart
1
4.4
A type of fat in fish and some vegetable oils that can help your heart
1
3.7
A fat with double bonds in its carbon chain
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from the transparent compound 'fatty acid' (an acid related to fats) plus the modifier 'omega-6', so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it denotes a subtype of fatty acid. However, the technical specification (the exact position of the double bond indicated by 'omega-6') is domain-specific and not predictable at B1, making the overall meaning only partially derivable.
Etymology
Omega-6 fatty acid gets its name from how scientists read a fat molecule: they call the last part the omega, like the final Greek letter, and the 6 shows that the first 'double bond' is six places from that end. So, the name points to a specific group of dietary fats that the body needs and must get from food.