Linoleic acid is an organic compound with the formula COOH(CH₂)₇CH=CHCH₂CH=CH(CH₂)₄CH₃. Both alkene groups are cis. It is a fatty acid sometimes denoted 18:2 or 18:2 cis-9,12. A linoleate is a salt or ester of this acid. Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid.

What is a linoleic acid?

Linoleic acid is the predominant n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the Western diet and we can obtain it from vegetable oils such as sunflower, safflower, soybean, corn, and canola oils as well as nuts and seeds.

What is another name for linolenic acid?

α-Linolenic acid (ALA), (from Greek linon, meaning flax), is an n−3, or omega-3, essential fatty acid. ALA is found in many seeds and oils, including flaxseed, walnuts, chia, hemp, and many common vegetable oils. In terms of its structure, it is named all-cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid.