Alpha linolenic acid and linoleic acid are fatty acids that are essential to human health. Like all essential nutrients, the essential fats are needed by humans in the correct amounts in the diet because they are unable to be synthesised in metabolic reactions. The essential fatty acids are needed by humans to form a number of short lived hormones called eicosanoids, as well as being a vital structural components of cell membranes. Deficiency of the two fatty acids can cause chronic inflammation which leads to degenerative disease. Compared to most nuts which contain monounsaturated fatty acids, walnuts are unique because they contain good concentrations of omega 6 linoleic (38.1 g per 100 g) acid and omega 3 alpha linolenic acid (9.1 g / 100 g) (figure 1). Evidence suggests that walnuts are inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease in a dose response manner.
Figure 1. The fatty acid contents of various nuts. All values stated per 100 g1. SFA, saturated fatty acid; MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid.
RdB
