Changes

Depending on what is fed during production, animal fats (associated with muscle meat, organ meat, and eggs) have varying LA concentrations; animal fats are good sources of AA. Seed and seed oils are more consistent sources of LA. Corn, soy and cottonseed oils have the highest concentrations of LA (approximately 50% of the total fat), while other seed oils are must lower such as flaxseed at 12% LA. Many seed oil crops are also being modified for human health concerns and even those with historically higher levels of LA are being modified to produce less LA and more oleic acid or alpha-linolenic acid<ref>Damude HG and Kinney AJ. Enhancing Plant Seed Oils for Human Nutrition. Plant Physiol 2008;147:962-968. </ref>. Sunflower oil is an example of this genetic modification. Sunflower oil naturally contains close to 65% linoleic acid content but new genetically modified strains are high in oleic acid with only 3% linoleic acid<ref>Lacombe S, et al. An insertion of oleate desaturase homologous sequence silences via siRNA the functional gene leading to high oleic acid content in sunflower seed oil. Mol Genet Genomics 2009;281:43-54.</ref>. Commercial pet food companies monitor levels of essential omega-6 fatty acids in source ingredients, but care must be taken when selecting essential fatty acid sources for home-prepared diets.   

Depending on what is fed during production, animal fats (associated with muscle meat, organ meat, and eggs) have varying LA concentrations; animal fats are good sources of AA. Seed and seed oils are more consistent sources of LA. Corn, soy and cottonseed oils have the highest concentrations of LA (approximately 50% of the total fat), while other seed oils are must lower such as flaxseed at 12% LA. Many seed oil crops are also being modified for human health concerns and even those with historically higher levels of LA are being modified to produce less LA and more oleic acid or alpha-linolenic acid<ref>Damude HG and Kinney AJ. Enhancing Plant Seed Oils for Human Nutrition. Plant Physiol 2008;147:962-968. </ref>. Sunflower oil is an example of this genetic modification. Sunflower oil naturally contains close to 65% linoleic acid content but new genetically modified strains are high in oleic acid with only 3% linoleic acid<ref>Lacombe S, et al. An insertion of oleate desaturase homologous sequence silences via siRNA the functional gene leading to high oleic acid content in sunflower seed oil. Mol Genet Genomics 2009;281:43-54.</ref>. Commercial pet food companies monitor levels of essential omega-6 fatty acids in source ingredients, but care must be taken when selecting essential fatty acid sources for home-prepared diets.   

==7. Diagnosing Omega-6 Fatty Acid Deficiency==

==Diagnosing Omega-6 Fatty Acid Deficiency==

Diagnosis based on compatible clinical signs of LA deficiency and evaluation of diet. Plasma lipid profiles can also be used to diagnose LA deficiencies; increased concentrations of the omega-9 fatty acid oleic acid (18:1n-9) are also seen with LA deficiency. Arachidonic acid deficiency in reproductive queens is difficult to determine and often relies on evaluation of diet.

Diagnosis based on compatible clinical signs of LA deficiency and evaluation of diet. Plasma lipid profiles can also be used to diagnose LA deficiencies; increased concentrations of the omega-9 fatty acid oleic acid (18:1n-9) are also seen with LA deficiency. Arachidonic acid deficiency in reproductive queens is difficult to determine and often relies on evaluation of diet.