Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are those that contain more than one carbon to carbon double bond.
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These fatty acids have 2 or more cis double bonds that are separated from each other by a single methylene group. (This form is also sometimes called a divinylmethane pattern.) [1]
| -C-C=C-C-C=C- |
The essential fatty acids are all omega-3 and -6 methylene-interrupted fatty acids. See more at Essential fatty acids—Nomenclature
| Common name | Lipid name | Chemical name |
|---|---|---|
| 16:3 (n-3) | all-cis 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid | |
| Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) | 18:3 (n-3) | all-cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid |
| Stearidonic acid (STD) | 18:4 (n-3) | all-cis-6,9,12,15,-octadecatetraenoic acid |
| Eicosatrienoic acid (ETE) | 20:3 (n-3) | all-cis-11,14,17-eicosatrienoic acid |
| Eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA) | 20:4 (n-3) | all-cis-8,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid |
| Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) | 20:5 (n-3) | all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid |
| Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, Clupanodonic acid) | 22:5 (n-3) | all-cis-7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid |
| Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) | 22:6 (n-3) | all-cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid |
| Tetracosapentaenoic acid | 24:5 (n-3) | all-cis-9,12,15,18,21-tetracosapentaenoic acid |
| Tetracosahexaenoic acid (Nisinic acid) | 24:6 (n-3) | all-cis-6,9,12,15,18,21-tetracosahexaenoic acid |
| Common name | Lipid name | Chemical name |
|---|---|---|
| Linoleic acid | 18:2 (n-6) | all-cis-9,12-octadecadienoic acid |
| Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) | 18:3 (n-6) | all-cis-6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid |
| Eicosadienoic acid | 20:2 (n-6) | all-cis-11,14-eicosadienoic acid |
| Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) | 20:3 (n-6) | all-cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid |
| Arachidonic acid (AA) | 20:4 (n-6) | all-cis-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid |
| Docosadienoic acid | 22:2 (n-6) | all-cis-13,16-docosadienoic acid |
| Adrenic acid | 22:4 (n-6) | all-cis-7,10,13,16-docosatetraenoic acid |
| Docosapentaenoic acid (Osbond acid) | 22:5 (n-6) | all-cis-4,7,10,13,16-docosapentaenoic acid |
Omega-9 fatty acids, mono- and polysaturated
| Common name | Lipid name | Chemical name |
|---|---|---|
| Oleic acid† | 18:1 (n-9) | cis-9-octadecenoic acid |
| Eicosenoic acid† | 20:1 (n-9) | cis-11-eicosenoic acid |
| Mead acid | 20:3 (n-9) | all-cis-5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid |
| Erucic acid† | 22:1 (n-9) | cis-13-docosenoic acid |
| Nervonic acid† | 24:1 (n-9) | cis-15-tetracosenoic acid |
| †Monounsaturated | ||
| -C=C-C=C- |
Conjugated fatty acids have two or more conjugated double bonds
| Common name | Lipid name | Chemical name |
|---|---|---|
| Conjugated Linoleic Acids (two conjugated double bonds) | ||
| Rumenic acid | 18:2 (n-7) | 9Z,11E-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid |
| 18:2 (n-6) | 10E,12Z-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid | |
| Conjugated Linolenic Acids (three conjugated double bonds) | ||
| α-Calendic acid | 18:3 (n-6) | 8E,10E,12Z-octadecatrienoic acid |
| β-Calendic acid | 18:3 (n-6) | 8E,10E,12E-octadecatrienoic acid |
| Jacaric acid | 18:3 (n-6) | 8E,10Z,12E-octadecatrienoic acid |
| α-Eleostearic acid | 18:3 (n-5) | 9Z,11E,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
| β-Eleostearic acid | 18:3 (n-5) | 9E,11E,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
| Catalpic acid | 18:3 (n-5) | 9Z,11Z,13E-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
| Punicic acid | 18:3 (n-5) | 9Z,11E,13Z-octadeca-9,11,13-trienoic acid |
| Other | ||
| Rumelenic acid | 18:3 (n-3) | 9E,11Z,15E-octadeca-9,11,15-trienoic acid |
| α-Parinaric acid | 18:4 (n-3) | 9E,11Z,13Z,15E-octadeca-9,11,13,15-trienoic acid |
| β-Parinaric acid | 18:4 (n-3) | all trans-octadeca-9,11,13,15-trienoic acid |
| Bosseopentaenoic acid | 20:5 (n-6) | 5Z,8Z,10E,12E,14Z-eicosanoic acid |
| Common name | Lipid name | Chemical name |
|---|---|---|
| Pinolenic acid | 18:3 (n-6) | (5Z,9Z,12Z)-octadeca-5,9,12-trienoic acid |
| Podocarpic acid | 20:3 (n-6) | (5Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosa-5,11,14-trienoic acid |
The biological effects of the ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids are largely mediated by their mutual interactions, see Essential fatty acid interactions for detail.
   | Common (non-systematic) Names for Fatty Acids - AOCS > Membership & Divisions > Divisions & Sections > Analytical Division > |
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