Linoleic acid (omega-6)

The association is established; acting on it is not advised

148 positions in the genome linked to how much linoleic acid is in the blood. They explain part of why levels differ between people; they do not say what to take.

What this supplement connects to

What this page holds

148 positions in the genome that published studies have linked to how much linoleic acid is in the blood, from 7 studies. The genes named most often: DOCK7, IGF2R, MARCHF8, FADS2, DNM2, LIPG.

What it means, and what it does not

These positions explain part of why two people eating the same food can have different linoleic acid levels. They do not say whether anyone should take Linoleic acid (omega-6), or how much. A blood level is measured by a test, and no guideline sets a dose from a gene result.

This is for learning, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially alongside other medicines.

Sources

Papers, with their authors

GWAS and multi-omics integrative analysis reveal novel loci and their molecular mechanisms for circulating fatty acids

Sun Y, Xu H, Ye K

HGG advances · 2025 · PMID 40545721 · open access

Characterising metabolomic signatures of lipid-modifying therapies through drug target mendelian randomisation

Richardson TG, Leyden GM, Wang Q, Bell JA, Elsworth B, Davey Smith G, Holmes MV

PLoS biology · 2022 · PMID 35213538 · open access

Role of circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases risk: analysis using Mendelian randomization and fatty acid genetic association data from over 114,000 UK Biobank participants

Borges MC, Haycock PC, Zheng J, Hemani G, Holmes MV, Davey Smith G, Hingorani AD, Lawlor DA

BMC medicine · 2022 · PMID 35692035 · open access

Decreased Circulating Very Small Low-Density Lipoprotein is Likely Causal for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Farashi S, Bonelli R, Jackson VE, Ansell BRE, Guymer RH, Bahlo M

Ophthalmology science · 2024 · PMID 39091897 · open access

Genome-Wide Association Study for Serum Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Exploratory Analysis of the Sex-Specific Effects and Dietary Modulation in Mediterranean Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome

Coltell O, Sorlí JV, Asensio EM, Barragán R, González JI, Giménez-Alba IM, Zanón-Moreno V, Estruch R, Ramírez-Sabio JB, Pascual EC, Ortega-Azorín C, Ordovas JM

and 1 more — show all

Corella D

Nutrients · 2020 · PMID 31991592 · open access

Official information

How much to take, what too much does and what it interacts with — the questions a gene does not answer — are on the government pages below.

Read the labels — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database, US product labels that list "linoleic acid"

Questions about Linoleic acid (omega-6)

What is Linoleic acid (omega-6)?

Linoleic acid (omega-6) is sold as a dietary supplement (fatty acid). This page lists the 148 positions in the genome that research has linked to its blood level.

Do my genes decide my linoleic acid level?

Partly. 148 positions from 7 studies are linked to it, each with a small effect; diet, health and medicines matter too. A blood test measures the level itself.

Should I take Linoleic acid (omega-6) because of a gene result?

No guideline sets a supplement or a dose from these positions. Decide with a doctor or pharmacist, from a measured level where one is relevant.

Quoting this page

Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0: free to read, share and adapt for non-commercial use, naming MyGeneLog™ and linking the exact page. Commercial use, including training or serving a commercial AI system, needs a licence — https://www.mygenelog.com/license

Linoleic acid (omega-6). MyGeneLog™. https://www.mygenelog.com/supplements/linoleic-acid

Nothing on this page recommends taking anything. If a result here matters to you, take it to a doctor or a pharmacist rather than to a shop.