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omega-6 fatty acid

omega-6 fatty acid

4.2
A type of fat in foods the body must get from the diet
  • noun
  • /oʊˈmeɪɡə sɪks ˈfæti ˈæsɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ácido graso omega-6
  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

polyunsaturated fat
vsomega-6 fatty acid
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A fat from plant oils and fish that is better for the heart

is a biochemical acid term rather than a general dietary fat label
polyunsaturated fatty acid
vsomega-6 fatty acid
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A type of fat in fish and some vegetable oils that can help your heart

is more specific because it names an exact bond position six carbons from the end
omega-6
vsomega-6 fatty acid
  • Specialized
4.7

A type of fat found in plant oils that the body needs

is a subtype defined by that exact bond position rather than general polyunsaturation
unsaturated fatty acid
vsomega-6 fatty acid
  • Specialized
3.7

A fat with double bonds in its carbon chain

is narrower, specifying a particular double bond location at the sixth carbon

Surface Forms

Morphology

omega-6 + fatty + acid

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.