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linoleic acid

chemistry
Also known as: cis-9, cis-12-octadecadienoic acid

Quick Summary

Linoleic acid is a liquid, unsaturated fatty acid with the chemical formula C18H32O2. It is found in semidrying oils, such as corn oil, and is essential for the nutrition of some animals.1

Fatty acids are components of complex lipid molecules like fats and phospholipids. Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, meaning it contains more than one carbon-carbon double bond. These double bonds are typically separated by a CH2 group and have a cis configuration in naturally occurring fatty acids.23

Linoleic acid, along with alpha-linolenic acid, are considered essential fatty acids because the human body cannot synthesize them and must obtain them from dietary sources. They are precursors to important substances like prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Many vegetable oils, such as corn oil and soybean oil, are good sources of linoleic acid.234

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