nutrient
Linoleic acid
Linoleic acid is an essential omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in many plant oils, nuts and seeds.
Educational draft · Human scientific and editorial review pending. About review status
It is a structural fatty acid and precursor in the omega-6 family; its dietary context is distinct from that of omega-3 fatty acids.
Food sources
Per 100 g| Food | Per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Almonds, dry-roasted and salted | 14.5 g |
| Hummus, commercial | 6.81 g |
| Ground flaxseed | 5.26 g |
| Atlantic salmon, farmed, raw | 2.15 g |
| Braised chicken drumstick | 1.05 g |
Show 9 more foods
| Food | Per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Soy milk, unsweetened and shelf-stable | 0.99 g |
| Braised chicken breast | 0.6 g |
| Roasted beef tenderloin | 0.33 g |
| Plain whole-milk yogurt | 0.08 g |
| Salmon | 0.05 g |
| Cottage cheese, 2% fat | 0.05 g |
| Low-fat milk, 1% and fortified | 0.03 g |
| Light tuna, canned in water, drained | 0.01 g |
| Greek yogurt, plain nonfat | 0.01 g |
About these amounts
These values describe the named food and preparation. A 100 g comparison is not a suggested serving. Small amounts are rounded for display; an unreported amount is not zero.
Portions recorded by the source
- Almonds, dry-roasted and salted: 1 cup (135 g) — 19.58 g.
- Hummus, commercial: 2 tablespoon (33.9 g) — 2.31 g.
- Braised chicken drumstick: 1 drumstick (104 g) — 1.09 g.
- Braised chicken breast: 1 piece (174 g) — 1.04 g.
- Roasted beef tenderloin: 1 roast (462 g) — 1.52 g.
- Cottage cheese, 2% fat: 1 cup (220 g) — 0.11 g.
- Low-fat milk, 1% and fortified: 1 cup (246 g) — 0.06 g.
- Light tuna, canned in water, drained: 1 can (142 g) — 0.02 g.
- Greek yogurt, plain nonfat: 1 container (156 g) — 0.02 g.
The source records and EFSA guidance are linked in References below.
How it works
The essential omega-6 parent
Humans cannot introduce the first omega-6 double bond, so linoleic acid must come from the diet. It can be elongated and desaturated into other omega-6 fatty acids, including arachidonic acid.
Related topics
Polyunsaturated fat includes Linoleic acid
Linoleic acid is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Evidence: Established · Source checked 2026-09-05 · Sources: European Food Safety Authority: Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol
Linoleic acid can be converted to Arachidonic acid
Linoleic acid is a precursor in the omega-6 pathway that can produce arachidonic acid.
Evidence: Established · Source checked 2026-09-05 · Sources: European Food Safety Authority: Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol
Worth knowing
EFSA reference wording. EFSA proposes an adequate intake of 4% of energy for linoleic acid in adults.
A closer look
Omega families are separate
Linoleic acid and ALA are both essential fatty acids but belong to different omega families. Similar naming does not make their pathways interchangeable.
It can supply arachidonic acid
Arachidonic acid can be formed downstream from linoleic acid through elongation and desaturation.
References
Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.
- European Food Safety Authority (opens in new tab)Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterolChecked 2026-09-05
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (opens in new tab)FoodData Central Foundation Foods, April 2026 JSON releaseChecked 2026-09-05
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (opens in new tab)Vitamin D: Fact Sheet for Health ProfessionalsChecked 2026-09-05
- USDA Agricultural Research Service (opens in new tab)FoodData CentralChecked 2026-09-04