Table 2.

Sources of major physiologically-occurring fatty acids in human body

Fatty acids	Sources (Dietary/endogenous)
16:0	Dietary & endogenous
18:0	Dietary & endogenous (from 16:0)
cis 18:1	Dietary & endogenous (from 18:0)
Trans 18:1	Dietary
18:2(n-6) LA	Dietary
18:3(n-3) ALA	Dietary
20:4 (n-6) AA	Dietary & endogenous (from LA)
20:5(n-3) EPA and	Dietary (Needs ALA to be present.) Limited conversion from ALA to EPA & DHA
22:6(n-3) DHA

ALA α-Linolenic acid; EPA eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA docosahexaenoic acid; AA arachidonic acid; LA linoleic acid