Fatty acids
Gamma-linolenic acid (18:3 n-6)
The first step your body makes when it converts linoleic acid onward toward arachidonic acid.
Unit µmol/LTypical adult range 6–150 µmol/L
What it is
The first step your body makes when it converts linoleic acid onward toward arachidonic acid.
Why it matters
Because it sits at the rate-limiting step, it reflects how efficiently that conversion is running rather than what you ate.
Reading the number
It is present in small amounts, so the value is noisier than the abundant fats above it. Evening primrose and borage oil supplements raise it directly.
What moves it
linoleic acid intakeevening primrose or borage supplementsinsulin resistancezinc and magnesium status
When to raise it
Worth reading with the rest of the omega-6 chain rather than alone.
Also known as
On a report in another language.
A lab report names this analyte in its own language. Vitals Vault recognises each of these and files them all under Gamma-linolenic acid (18:3 n-6).
Gama Linolenico (C18:3 w6)GLAÁcido Gama-Linolénico
Catalog entry last updated 2026-08-28. Browse all 165 metrics.