Linoleic Acid (LA)
From Health Facts
Latest Edit: Iva 2012-08-05 (EDT)
The word "linoleic" comes from the Greek word linon (flax). Oleic means "of, relating to, or derived from oil or olive" or "of or relating to oleic acid" because saturating the n-6 double bond produces oleic acid.[1]
Linoleic acid (LA) is an polyunsaturated n-6 fatty acid with an 18-carbon chain and two cis-double bonds. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that is required for health and is used in the biosynthesis of arachidonic acid (AA) and of prostaglandins.
Contents
Uses
Linoleic acid is important in overall health maintenance including:
Deficiency
A deficiency of linoleic acid is rare when a healthy diet is consumed. Deficiency symptoms include:
- mild skin scalding
- hair loss
- wound healing
Food Sources
It is found in the lipids of cell membranes and is common in:
- vegetable oils
- poppy seeds, safflower and sunflower
- corn oils