How Essential are Omega-6 Fatty Acids + How Much do We Actually Need? Study Says: Requirements May Have Been Significantly Overestimated Due to Methodological Flaws
I have to admit: Given the high linoleic (N6) acid content of most of the commonly used plant oils in the Western diet, deficiencies are probably rare occur (if at all) mostly in clinical settings. I am quite sure all of you will have read something about the essential fatty acid requirements of mammals before. Unfortunately, I am also quite sure that you will have found recommendations ranging from the "peatarian" zero (as in "beware of essential fats, the are toxic") to the "Robb Wolff fish oil calculator bullocks" of the early days which recommended copious amounts of omega-3s and allowed for at best zero omega-6s in your diet. One of the reasons that the opinions on human essential fatty acid requirement diverge in the aforementioned ways is that scientific evidence to form an educated unbiased opinion on how much of these precious fats we actually need is scarce. More important than basal fatty acid requirement are the correct frying oils ...
