Question

Essential fatty acids are
A. Saturated
B. Unsaturated
C. Both saturated and unsaturated
D. Cyclic

Answer 1

Fatty acids that can't be synthesized in the human body are essential fatty acids. These kinds of dietary fatty acids are essential. If there is no necessary fatty acid in the diet, the disease is detected in the human body.

Complete answer:
The diet includes essential fatty acids because the body does not have the capacity to synthesize them on its own. In the diet, non-essential fatty acids are not needed because they can be synthesized by the body itself. Glycerol and aliphatic side chains make up the fatty acids. In nature, the aliphatic side chain can either be saturated or unsaturated.
There are two forms of fatty acid:
a. Saturated fatty acids: If there are single bonds in the aliphatic side chain, such fatty acid is referred to as saturated fatty acid.
b. Unsaturated fatty acid: If there are double or triple bonds in the aliphatic side chain, such a form of fatty acid is referred to as unsaturated fatty acid.
There are two types of fatty acids formed in the human body. First is essential fatty acids. As they are essential that is why the diet needs them. Examples: arachidonic acid, linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, etc.
Non-essential fatty acids: The human body synthesizes these fatty acids. Examples are stearic acid, arachidic acid, palmitic acid, etc.
Hence, option B- Unsaturated is the correct answer.

Note: A third type, conditionally essential fatty acids, is also found in addition to these two types of fatty acids. These are necessary and need to be consumed by the body only at the moment of illness. Gamma-linolenic acid (omega 3 fatty acid) and docosahexaenoic acid (omega 6 fatty acid) are examples.