Question:

Which among the followings is an example of omega six fatty acid

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To identify the omega family, subtract the position of the last double bond from the total number of carbon atoms.
For Arachidonic acid: \( 20 \text{ carbons} - \text{double bond at carbon } 14 = 6 \implies \omega \)-6.
  • Arachidonic acid
  • Oleic acid
  • $\alpha$-Linolenic acid
  • Palmitoleic acid
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Unsaturated fatty acids are classified into families based on the position of the first double bond relative to the methyl (\( \omega \)) carbon of the fatty acid chain.
The most common families are the omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us analyze the chemical structure of each given fatty acid:
1.Arachidonic acid (A): This is a polyunsaturated fatty acid containing 20 carbons and 4 double bonds (\( 20:4 \)).
The first double bond is located at the sixth carbon from the methyl end of the chain, making it an omega-6 (\( \omega \)-6 or n-6) fatty acid.
It is an essential fatty acid for cats and serves as a precursor for synthesizing inflammatory mediators (prostaglandins and leukotrienes).
Thus, (A) is the correct option.
2.Oleic acid (B): This is a monounsaturated fatty acid containing 18 carbons and 1 double bond (\( 18:1 \)).
The double bond is located at the ninth carbon from the methyl end, making it an omega-9 (\( \omega \)-9) fatty acid.
3.\(\alpha\)-Linolenic acid (C): This is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbons and 3 double bonds (\( 18:3 \)).
The first double bond is at the third carbon from the methyl end, making it an omega-3 (\( \omega \)-3) fatty acid.
4.Palmitoleic acid (D): This is a monounsaturated fatty acid with 16 carbons and 1 double bond (\( 16:1 \)), classified as an omega-7 (\( \omega \)-7) fatty acid.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The fatty acid that belongs to the omega-6 family is Arachidonic acid.
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