The two essential fatty acids are: 1. linoleic acid (omega-6) 2. alpha-linolenic (omega-3) These fatty acids are essential because we can not synthesize them.  This is because we do not have an enzyme capable of adding a double bond (desaturating) beyond the omega-9 carbon counting from the alpha end (the omega-6 and 3 positions). The … Continue reading 2.34 Essential Fatty Acids & Eicosanoids