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The Role of the Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-3s)
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- The following figure shows the pathway of the Omega-6 (linoleic acid) fatty acid.
- The first conversion is from (1) linoleic acid into (4) gamma linolenic acid. This is achieved through the action of the delta-6-desaturase enzyme (2).
- Note that the delta-6-desaturase enzyme (2) is dependent upon sufficient quantities of vitamin B6, magnesium and zinc (3).
- Deficiencies in any of these three nutrients can impair the conversion.
- Next is the conversion of gamma linolenic acid (4) into dihomogamma linolenic acid (6) by the enzyme elongase (5).
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The Road to Wellness 
