Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids, sometimes abbreviated EFAs, are fatty acids that are a required part of the human diet. The human body cannot synthesize these fatty acids and therefore must obtain them from a food or supplemental source. Essential fatty acids were originally classified as Vitamin F, however it was discovered that essential fatty acids were much more closely related to fats than to vitamins, and were reclassified as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-9 fatty acids can be fully synthesized by the human body, and as such are not considered essential to one’s diet. In truth, only two of the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential. Alpha-linoleic acid (LNA) is found only in plant sources- for example, Flax seed oil is a great source of both LNA and LA; however, all other essential fatty acids can be synthesized through modification of omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, and omega-6 fatty acid Linoleic acid, or LA.
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