ABSTRACT
The ω-3 fatty acids are biochemically different from their counterparts, the ω-6 fatty acids, by the position of their first double bond, situated between the third and the fourth carbon atom instead of being between the sixth and the seventh carbon atom. According to that nomenclature, the carbon numbering starts from the terminal methyl group (opposite to the acid function), hence their name ω-3 (or n-3) and ω-6 (or n-6). Only plants have the ability to convert linoleic acid ([LA] 18:2 ω-6) (Figure 7.1), the precursor of the ω-6 fatty acid series, into α-linolenic acid ([ALA] 18:3 ω-3) (Figure 7.2), the precursor of all the ω-3 fatty acid series.
