Linoleic acid (Omega-6)Nutrition library

Linoleic acid (Omega-6)

g · Energy & macros

Essential omega-6 fat (linoleic acid) — needed in modest amounts but excess relative to omega-3 can skew inflammatory balance.

Trimester focus

Stage	For the mother	For the baby
First trimester	Baseline needs are modest; focus on whole-food fats rather than high-linoleic oils.	Used in cell membranes as the fetal body forms.
Second trimester	IOM adequate intake ~12 g/day — most diets exceed this without trying.	Continues as a structural fat in growing tissues.
Third trimester	Watch excess from seed oils and processed foods — balance with EPA/DHA matters more than chasing minimums.	No separate fetal requirement beyond maternal supply.

Scored as a ceiling (≤12 g), not a minimum. See Omega fats balance panel for n6:n3 ratio.