Polyunsaturated fatty acid marker
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About Omega-6 Total
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About Omega-6 Total
Overview and History
Omega-6 fatty acids are a class of n‑6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Common members measured together in an Omega-6 Total include linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA); these are obtained from the diet and processed by elongation and desaturation enzymes in the body.
Historically, essential fatty acids were characterized in the early 20th century when dietary deficiency studies showed their importance. Later work identified omega-6 derivatives as precursors to eicosanoids and other lipid mediators that influence membrane fluidity, cell signaling, and inflammatory pathways.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Higher Omega-6 Total can reflect greater dietary intake of n‑6 rich oils or altered fatty acid metabolism and means there is more substrate available for downstream signaling molecules; how that translates to biology depends on the balance with omega‑3s and concurrent inflammatory markers. Lower Omega-6 Total may indicate low dietary intake, malabsorption, increased metabolic use, or altered lipid handling and can affect membrane composition and signaling capacity. Interpretation is most informative when viewed alongside omega‑3 levels, inflammation markers, lipid profiles, and clinical context provided by the full Cardio Zoomer panel.
Featured Test
Cardio Zoomer includes Omega-6 Total to assess lipid quality and the inflammatory signaling potential tied to dietary fats. It helps clinicians see how n‑6 abundance interacts with omega‑3 measures, inflammation markers, and lipid metrics to clarify metabolic and vascular patterns and support personalized risk interpretation.
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Mary Beth Augustine
DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator
Suzanne Barker
MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator
Suzette Garcia
MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator
Brooke Mader Ganev
MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator
Adair Anderson
MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator
Lillie Luu Nguyen
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jason Barker
ND- Clinical Educator
Emaline Brown
ND- Clinical Educator
Dana Filatova
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jessy Dhanjal
ND- Clinical Educator
Nour Amri
MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator
