Which omega-6 fatty acid is linoleic acid (LA) associated with sources like nuts, grains, vegetable oils?

• A. Linoleic Acid (LA).
• B. Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA).
• C. Arachidonic Acid (AA).
• D. Oleic Acid.

Answer: (A)

Linoleic acid is the primary dietary omega-6 fatty acid and is most abundant in plant-based foods. It must be obtained from the diet, and you’ll find it in common oils and fat-rich plant foods—nut oils, seeds, and many vegetable oils such as sunflower, safflower, corn, and soybean. Because of this, linoleic acid is the omega-6 fatty acid most closely associated with nuts, grains, and vegetable oils. Structurally, it’s 18:2(n-6) and serves as the precursor to other omega-6 fats like gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid. Other fatty acids listed are not as representative of those everyday foods: gamma-linolenic acid appears mainly in certain seed oils; arachidonic acid is more common in animal products; oleic acid is an omega-9 fatty acid.