Omega-3 fatty acids accompany us from the moment of conception to old age, supporting our physical condition
Emilia Szymańska
2026-03-15
6 min. read
1 / 1
10
views
1 zdjęcie
Until recently, the topic of fatty acids was rarely discussed, and the word omega only brought to mind mathematics in high school. Today, we hear about omega-3 fatty acids from every corner, although we don't always understand exactly what it's about, its name is no longer unfamiliar to us.
What is the actual origin of the term "omega-3 fatty acids," and what does it signify from a chemical perspective?
Omega-3 fatty acids constitute a category of polyunsaturated fats distinguished by the placement of their first carbon-carbon double bond at the third carbon atom from the terminal methyl end of the hydrocarbon chain—hence their systematic designation. Given the complexity of full chemical nomenclature (e.g., *(9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienoic acid* for ALA), common practice favors abbreviations or colloquial terms. The three principal members of this group are: **alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)**, which serves as the metabolic precursor for the endogenous synthesis of **eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)** and **docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)**. While EPA and DHA exhibit the most extensive biological activities, ALA remains equally critical because it provides the foundational substrate for their in vivo conversion within human biochemical pathways.
You have started reading a PRO article
You can preview the first chapter. To read the complete article and unlock all content, upgrade to a PRO account.
