Fatty acid
In chemistry, particularly in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of an even number of carbon atoms, from 4 to 28. Fatty acids are usually not found in organisms, but instead as three main classes of esters: triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol esters. In any of these forms, fatty acids are both important dietary sources of fuel for animals and they are important structural components for cells.
Essential fatty acid
Reference intake values for as published by the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
In the United States, the recommendations for omega-3 fatty acids covers ALA, EPA and DHA, and for adults the values are 1.6 g/day for men and 1.1. g/day for women. The recommendation for omega-6 fatty acids is for linoleic acid: 17 g/day for younger men, dropping to 14 g/day for older men; for women 12 and 11 g/day.