How omega-6 fatty acids affect the heart (2025)

Table of Contents
What are omega-6 fatty acids? Can eating omega-6 fatty acids cause heart disease? From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Products and Services See also

What are omega-6 fatty acids? Can eating omega-6 fatty acids cause heart disease?

Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.

Omega-6 fatty acids are a type of fat called polyunsaturated fat. Omega-6 fatty acids are in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. They're good to eat in small amounts in place of the fats that are solid at room temperature, call saturated fats. Omega-6 fatty acids can be good for the heart and seem to protect against heart disease.

The body needs fatty acids, called essential fatty acids. It can make most of the fatty acids it needs. But the body can't make linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid that includes omega-6 fatty acids. A healthy diet is the body's main source of omega-6 fatty acids.

Fatty acids have different effects on the body. Some are believed to cause swelling and irritation, called inflammation. But others seem to fight swelling and irritation, called anti-inflammatory. Studies have not shown an increased risk of heart disease linked to omega-6 fatty acids. In fact, research findings suggest that omega-6 fatty acids might reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke.

Until more is known, you can help keep your heart healthy by limiting saturated fats in your diet. Choose plant-based oils such as flaxseed oil or canola oil. One way to increase the amount of omega-6s in your diet is to use olive oil instead of butter when cooking. Or choose Brazil nuts or walnuts as snacks. They're also rich in omega-6 fatty acids.

See Also
How eating fish helps your heart

With

Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

  • Butter vs. margarine

June 13, 2023

  1. Mozaffarian D. Dietary fat. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 10, 2023.
  2. Saturated fats. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/saturated-fats. Accessed Nov. 22, 2021.
  3. Saini RK. Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Dietary sources, metabolism, and significance — A review. Life Sciences. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2018.04.049.
  4. Hooper L, et al. Omega-6 fats for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018; doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011094.pub3.
  5. Marklund M, et al. Biomarkers of dietary omega-6 fatty acids and incident cardiovascular disease and mortality. Circulation. 2019; doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038908.
  6. Mazidi M, et al. Association of types of dietary fats and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: A prospective cohort study and meta-analysis of prospective studies with 1,164,029 participants. Clinical Nutrition. 2020; doi:0.1016/j.clnu.2020.03.028.
  7. 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed Nov. 22, 2021.
  8. Innes JK, et al. Omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation. Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2018.03.004.
  9. Lopez-Jimenez F (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Dec. 7, 2021.
  10. Marklund M, et al. Biomarkers of dietary omega-6 fatty acids and incident cardiovascular disease and mortality. Circulation. 2019; doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038908.

See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Health foods
  2. Angina
  3. Atkins Diet
  4. Automated external defibrillators: Do you need an AED?
  5. Blood Basics
  6. Blood tests for heart disease
  7. Bradycardia
  8. Transplant advances
  9. Butter vs. margarine
  10. Calcium supplements: A risk factor for heart attack?
  11. Can vitamins help prevent a heart attack?
  12. Cardiac ablation
  13. Cardiac amyloidosis — Treatment options
  14. Cardiac amyloidosis — What is amyloid and how does it affect the heart
  15. Cardiac catheterization
  16. Cardioversion
  17. Chelation therapy for heart disease: Does it work?
  18. Chest X-rays
  19. Complete blood count (CBC)
  20. Coronary angiogram
  21. Coronary angioplasty and stents
  22. Coronary artery bypass surgery
  23. Coronary artery spasm: Cause for concern?
  24. Cough
  25. CT scan
  26. Daily aspirin therapy
  27. Dizziness
  28. Echocardiogram
  29. Ejection fraction: What does it measure?
  30. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
  31. Heart transplant to treat dilated cardiomyopathy: Elmo's story
  32. Erectile dysfunction: A sign of heart disease?
  33. Exercise and chronic disease
  34. Fasting diet: Can it improve my heart health?
  35. Fatigue
  36. Flu Shot Prevents Heart Attack
  37. Flu shots and heart disease
  38. Grass-fed beef
  39. Healthy Heart for Life!
  40. Heart and Blood Health
  41. Heart arrhythmia
  42. Heart attack
  43. Heart attack prevention: Should I avoid secondhand smoke?
  44. Heart attack symptoms
  45. Heart Attack Timing
  46. Heart disease
  47. Heart disease in women: Understand symptoms and risk factors
  48. Heart-healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease
  49. Heart murmurs
  50. Heart Rhythm Conditions
  51. Heart transplant
  52. Herbal supplements and heart drugs
  53. Holter monitor
  54. Honey: An effective cough remedy?
  55. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs)
  56. Leg swelling
  57. Mediterranean diet
  58. Menus for heart-healthy eating
  59. NSAIDs: Do they increase my risk of heart attack and stroke?
  60. Nuclear stress test
  61. Numbness
  62. Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health
  63. Omega-3 in fish
  64. Organ transplant in highly sensitized patients
  65. Pacemaker
  66. Pericardial effusion
  67. Polypill: Does it treat heart disease?
  68. Pseudoaneurysm: What causes it?
  69. Pulmonary edema
  70. Red wine, antioxidants and resveratrol
  71. Shortness of breath
  72. Silent heart attack
  73. Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting?
  74. Statins
  75. Heart disease prevention
  76. Stress symptoms
  77. Stress test
  78. Tachycardia
  79. The Last Brother's Heart
  80. Integrative approaches to treating pain
  81. Nutrition and pain
  82. Pain rehabilitation
  83. Self-care approaches to treating pain
  84. Triathlete transplant
  85. Coronary angioplasty
  86. Video: Heart and circulatory system
  87. Trans fat

.

How omega-6 fatty acids affect the heart (2025)
Top Articles
Electric Vs. Manual Toothbrushes: Which Is Better?
Clitoral Stimulation 101: Techniques and Tools for Enhanced Pleasure
The Ultimate Guide to Clitoris Stimulation
Latest Posts
The Benefits of Owning an Electric Toothbrush
Best Electric Toothbrush Picks of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Nathanael Baumbach

Last Updated:

Views: 5642

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanael Baumbach

Birthday: 1998-12-02

Address: Apt. 829 751 Glover View, West Orlando, IN 22436

Phone: +901025288581

Job: Internal IT Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Motor sports, Flying, Skiing, Hooping, Lego building, Ice skating

Introduction: My name is Nathanael Baumbach, I am a fantastic, nice, victorious, brave, healthy, cute, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.