Omega-3 fatty acids, also called ÃÂâÂÂ3 fatty acids or nâÂÂ3 fatty acids, are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). OmegaâÂÂ3 fatty acids are important for normal metabolism.
Mammals are unable to synthesize omegaâÂÂ3 fatty acids, but can obtain the shorter-chain omegaâÂÂ3 fatty acid ALA (18 carbons and 3 double bonds) through diet and use it to form the more important long-chain omegaâÂÂ3 fatty acids, EPA (20 carbons and 5 double bonds) and then from EPA, the most crucial, DHA (22 carbons and 6 double bonds).