Essential Fatty Acids: What They Are and Functions

in public opinion.

The main information concerning essential fatty acids will be grouped below.

* In English, essential fatty acids are called Essential Fatty Acids or are referred to as EFAs.

(acronym AG or FA) are classified into three groups - saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated - depending on the presence of one or more double bonds along their carbon chain.

Essential fatty acids belong to the polyunsaturated group, as they contain more double bonds in the aforementioned chain of carbon atoms.

This denotes some specific physico-chemical properties; the most interesting are:

• Liquid / slightly viscous consistency at low temperatures.
• Instability and susceptibility to oxidation, free radicals, light and heat, which require specific storage needs