Linolenic acid | chemistry | Britannica (original) (raw)

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constituent of fats and oils

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  In fat: Functions in plants and animals
  …and to a limited extent linolenic) to prevent the physical symptoms of essential-fatty-acid deficiency manifested by skin lesions, scaliness, poor hair growth, and low growth rates. These essential fatty acids must be supplied in the diet since they cannot be synthesized in the body.
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requirement in mammalian diet

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  In fatty acid
  Many animals cannot synthesize linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid). Those fatty acids are required, however, for cellular processes and the production of other necessary omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Thus, because they must be taken in through the diet, they are…
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trans fats

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  In trans fat: Trans-fat alternatives
  Oils that are low in linolenic acid, a compound that reduces the stability of oils, are the most widely used trans-fat alternatives; they are thermally stable and thus are suitable for deep-frying, and they are not associated with the production of off-flavours. Plants used to generate low-linolenic-acid oils include soybeans…
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