Omega 6 Facts

A type of polyunsaturated fatty acid, omega-6 fatty acids occur naturally in several foods and perform several functions once ingested, such as helping with hair and skin growth. There are many types of omega-6 fatty acids, including linoleic acid, which your body converts into gamma-linoleic acid. Your body changes gamma-linoleic acid into arachidonic acid, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Sources

Several types of foods contain omega-6 fatty acids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists different oils, such as corn oil, safflower oil and soybean oil, as omega-6 sources, and meats contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids. Sources of gamma-linoleic acid include supplement oils, such as black current seed oil, evening primrose oil and borage oil. Talk to your doctor before taking any omega-6 supplements.

Dietary Ratio

Finding a healthy balance between omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids is important. In the Western diet, the ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids is 20:1, which can lead to inflammation, according to the University of Michigan Health System. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids of between 2:1 and 4:1.

Benefits

Omega-6 fatty acids can provide some benefits if you have a certain medical condition. For example, women with breast cancer who took gamma-linoleic acid reacted better to the cancer medication tamoxifen than women who took the medication alone, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Omega-6 fatty acids also might help reduce breast tenderness and pain if you have cyclic mastalgia. William S. Harris et al., authors of "Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease," add that omega-6 fatty acids might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Dosage

The amount of omega-6 fatty acids you consume in your diet can vary if you are taking supplements for a condition. For cystic mastalgia, take between 3,000 and 4,000 mg of evening primrose oil in small doses throughout the day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. For eczema, take either 2,800 mg of gamma-linoleic acid or 4,000 to 8,000 mg of evening primrose oil in small doses throughout the day; however, because studies on the effects of evening primrose oil for eczema are mixed, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends talking to your doctor first.

Warning

You might not be able to take omega-6 fatty acids supplements safely if you have certain health conditions, such as a seizure disorder. Evening primrose oil might cause seizures, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Doses of gamma-linoleic acid greater than 3,000 mg a day might increase inflammation. If you are pregnant, do not use gamma-linoleic acid supplements, as they might cause harm to your baby.