HealthAugust 8, 2026

arachidonic

uh-rak-ih-DON-ik

Definition

A polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid present in the phospholipids of membranes of the body's cells and involved in the production of eicosanoids.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'arachne' meaning spider, referring to the arachidic acid from which it is biochemically derived; the suffix -ic denotes its chemical acid properties.

In the news

The article discusses arachidonic acid as a key omega-6 fatty acid whose absolute tissue levels are often scrutinized alongside omega-3s in dietary health research.

Omega-3s and Omega-6s: It’s Not the Balance but the Levels That Matter

Read the full article ↗

Nutritional Outlook

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