A diet deficient in fats may be deficient in which essential fatty acid?

A diet deficient in fats may be deficient in which essential fatty acid?

• A. Linoleic acid
• B. Oleic acid
• C. Arachidonic acid
• D. Palmitic acid

Answer: (A)

Essential fatty acids are fats the body cannot make and must obtain from food. Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is one of these indispensable fats. Without dietary linoleic acid, the body misses a key building block for cell membranes and for producing other important fatty acids and signaling molecules. The body can convert linoleic acid into arachidonic acid, so arachidonic acid itself isn’t considered strictly essential when linoleic acid is available. Oleic acid and palmitic acid, while common in foods, can be synthesized by the body, so they aren’t required to be consumed specifically as essential nutrients. Thus, a fat-deficient diet is most likely to lack linoleic acid.

Essential fatty acids are fats the body cannot make and must obtain from food. Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is one of these indispensable fats. Without dietary linoleic acid, the body misses a key building block for cell membranes and for producing other important fatty acids and signaling molecules. The body can convert linoleic acid into arachidonic acid, so arachidonic acid itself isn’t considered strictly essential when linoleic acid is available. Oleic acid and palmitic acid, while common in foods, can be synthesized by the body, so they aren’t required to be consumed specifically as essential nutrients. Thus, a fat-deficient diet is most likely to lack linoleic acid.