Which of the following is an essential fatty acid?

✅Explanation:
Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be obtained from the diet. Linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are the two primary essential fatty acids.

• Linoleic acid (LA):
-It is an omega-6 fatty acid.
-Found in vegetable oils like sunflower oil, safflower oil, and corn oil.
-Essential for maintaining cell membrane integrity and producing signaling molecules.

• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA):
-It is an omega-3 fatty acid.
-Found in flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.
-Precursor for other omega-3 fatty acids like EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

🛑 Additional Information:
-Essential fatty acids: fatty acids that cannot be prepared by the body and are obtained from the diet. Out body is not capable to synthesize them.
-For example, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid.
-The two essential fatty acids that are required are Linoleic and α-linolenic acids

• α-Linolenic acids:
-α-linolenic acid (C18H30O2)could be a form of omega-3 fatty acid found in plants.
-It's found in flaxseed oil, and in canola, soy, perilla, and walnut oils.
-α-linolenic acid is comparable to the omega-3 fatty acids that are in fish oil, known as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

• Linoleic acid:
-A polyunsaturated fatty acid is present as a triglyceride in linseed oil and other oils and is essential in the human diet.
-Double bonds are not conjugated.
-Occurs in misconfiguration.
-One of the two essential fatty acids required by the body.
-Occurs in nuts and fatty seeds.