What are the three essential fatty acids found in flaxseed oil capsules?

[Math Is Hard]

I have in my biology notes that the three essential fatty acids are:
Omega-3, Omega-6, and Linoleic acid
I'm confused because googling around I found several sources saying that Omega-6 IS Linoleic Acid. I have a bottle of flaxseed oil capsules and it says pretty much the same thing on the back. I thought maybe I should have actually written Linolenic Acid, but I believe that's actually the same thing as Omega-3 (Alpha-Linolenic Acid).
Can anyone clear up my confusion? Thanks!

 

[Moonbear]

It's quite possible you've gotten the names written wrong because there is barely any difference in the spelling. Both linoleic and linolenic acid are considered essential fatty acids. Depending on where you read, some books say there are two essential fatty acids and some say three, and the cautious ones say there are "at least two." Arachidonic acid is the third.

I don't actually have any texts that refer to them as Omega-3 and Omega-6 (I checked 4 different textbooks to make sure I was giving you correct information...I don't think much about fatty acids on a daily basis), and I'm unfamiliar with that particular nomenclature, so can't help you sort out which is which any better than you can on your own (I'd just use Google for that too).

 

[Math Is Hard]

Thanks, Moonbear. I am going to poll some other students and see what they wrote down in their lecture notes. I've only asked one other person so far and she had written the same thing I had, so I will check around. I have a test tonight so it was sort of a last minute question. Kicking myself now because I totally forgot to ask my teacher about it last week.

 

[Moonbear]

I suppose it's also possible the teacher said it wrong given the similarity of the two words. It's an easy one to trip over. What does your textbook say on it?

 

[Math Is Hard]

I suppose it's also possible the teacher said it wrong given the similarity of the two words. It's an easy one to trip over.

or I had wax in my ears or something.

What does your textbook say on it?

The textbook doesn't really list it out:

Polyunsaturated oils are nutritionally essential because they are the only type of of fat that contains linoleic acid and linolenic acid, two fatty acids the body can't make. .. Since these fatty acids are supplied by the diet, they are the called essential fatty acids.
Olive oil and canola oil are known to contain a larger % of monounsaturated fatty acids than other types of cooking oils. Omega-3 fatty acids- with a double bond in the third position- are believed to be especially protective against heart disease...

Looking at the book makes me think the three are linoleic (aka Omega-6), linolenic, and and omega-3, but then again, omega-3 might just be another term for linolenic fatty acid, because I have found it called alpha-linolenic acid in my web searches.

 

[Math Is Hard]

anyway, it's not that big a deal, but I'll report back when I find out what the teacher meant.

 

[Math Is Hard]

hmm.. well, what I had written down was actually what she said. I asked her about it right before the test. But then she said, it wouldn't be on the exams, so I am going to quit worrying about it for now.
I am just about to pop a flaxseed capsule. The nutritional goodies it contains, according to the label, are Alpha Linolenic Acid (Omega 3), Linoleic Acid (Omega 6), and Oleic Acid (Omega 9).