Essential fatty acids are one form of dietary fat. They are called essential because they are vital to the maintenance of good health but can't be produced by the body, explains the AllAboutVision.com website. Therefore they must come from a person's diet. Essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated compounds that are classified as omega-3 fatty acids or omega-6 fatty acids, depending on their chemical structure.
Alpha-linolenic Acid
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 essential fatty acid, and it occurs in the oil obtained from the seeds of plants such as flax, soybean, perilla and canola. Canola and soybean cooking oils, as well as medicinal flaxseed oil, are common commercial sources of alpha-linolenic acid.
Alpha-linolenic acid has therapeutic value in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and high blood pressure. In addition, it may lower blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Adults who have asthma may benefit from using perilla seed oil as a dietary supplement because the alpha-linolenic acid it contains may decrease bronchial tube inflammation and enhance lung function. Other therapeutic applications of alpha-linolenic acid include prevention of breast cancer and mitigating the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
Patients should not start taking dietary supplements of alpha-linolenic acid until they consult their doctor about possible side effects and interactions with other medications.
Linoleic Acid
Linoleic acid is an omega-6 essential fatty acid, according to the Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Sources of linoleic acid include fish oil, meat, milk, evening primrose oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil. The body uses linoleic acid to synthesize different forms of substances called prostaglandins. One of these forms has anti-inflammatory properties which facilitate healing. Linoleic acid can benefit patients with multiple sclerosis because it is the building block for myelin, the fatty material that insulates nerve cells, thereby expediting transmission of nerve signals. Multiple sclerosis occurs because the myelin sheath around nerve cells starts to degenerate. Patients who take a linoleic acid dietary supplement show an attenuation of the severity of bouts of the disease relative to those who do not use a supplement.
It is important that patients check with their doctors before taking any supplements containing linoleic acid.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
Eicosapentaenoic acid is one of the three omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial to the human body. It is generally considered to be essential even though the body can synthesize it from the omega-3 essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. The body's synthesis is often inefficient and yields only small amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid. According to HealthyPlace.com, this fatty acid has therapeutic value in cases of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Eating cold water fish such as wild salmon and taking fish oil supplements can provide eicosapentaenoic acid. Individuals contemplating the use of such supplements should visit their doctor to discuss potential risks and benefits.
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