Linoleic Acid
What it is · too little · too much · daily reference values by country
For reference only. This is not a diagnosis or a prescription. If you have concerns, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
What it is
- Linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid are essential fatty acids that the body cannot make, so they must be obtained from the diet. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
- Linoleic acid (LA) is a type of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) of vegetable origin that must be obtained through the diet. (European Food Safety Authority)
Getting too little
- A lack of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid can cause dry skin, poor growth, reduced visual function, and more. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
- Deficiency in LA may result in scaly skin, dermatitis, and reduced growth. (European Food Safety Authority)
Getting too much
- No consistent scientific reports have been found that taking in a lot of omega-6 fatty acids from food or supplements causes side effects or toxicity. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Daily reference values by country
Korea · US · EU — tap to open
These tables are daily reference values for healthy people. Numbers in the text above are a different kind of value, and you cannot diagnose yourself from them. How to read RDA, AI and UL
Korea — 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (Ministry of Health and Welfare)
| Group | AI |
|---|---|
| 0–5 months | 4 g |
| 6–11 months | 6 g |
| 1–2 years | 6 g |
| 3–5 years | 6 g |
| Male · 6–8 years | 7 g |
| Male · 9–11 years | 9 g |
| Male · 12–14 years | 11 g |
| Male · 15–18 years | 11 g |
| Male · 19–29 years | 11 g |
| Male · 30–49 years | 10 g |
| Male · 50–64 years | 8 g |
| Male · 65–74 years | 6 g |
| Male · 75+ years | 4 g |
| Female · 6–8 years | 6 g |
| Female · 9–11 years | 7 g |
| Female · 12–14 years | 8 g |
| Female · 15–18 years | 8 g |
| Female · 19–29 years | 8 g |
| Female · 30–49 years | 7 g |
| Female · 50–64 years | 6 g |
| Female · 65–74 years | 4 g |
| Female · 75+ years | 2 g |
US — NASEM (National Academies)
| Group | AI |
|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 4.4 g |
| 7–12 months | 4.6 g |
| 1–3 years | 7 g |
| 4–8 years | 10 g |
| Male · 9–13 years | 12 g |
| Male · 14–18 years | 16 g |
| Male · 19–30 years | 17 g |
| Male · 31–50 years | 17 g |
| Male · 51–70 years | 14 g |
| Male · 71+ years | 14 g |
| Female · 9–13 years | 10 g |
| Female · 14–18 years | 11 g |
| Female · 19–30 years | 12 g |
| Female · 31–50 years | 12 g |
| Female · 51–70 years | 11 g |
| Female · 71+ years | 11 g |
| Pregnancy · 14–18 years | 13 g |
| Pregnancy · 19–30 years | 13 g |
| Pregnancy · 31–50 years | 13 g |
| Lactation · 14–18 years | 13 g |
| Lactation · 19–30 years | 13 g |
| Lactation · 31–50 years | 13 g |
EU — EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)
| Group | AI |
|---|---|
| 7–11 months | — |
| 1–1 years | — |
| 2–3 years | — |
| 4–17 years | — |
| 18+ years | — |
| Pregnancy · 18–60 years | — |
| Lactation · 18–60 years | — |
Sources
- EFSA DRV Finder (Dietary Reference Values) · checked 2026-10-07
- EFSA DRV Finder — nutrient descriptions · checked 2026-10-07
- EFSA Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (v11, August 2025) · checked 2026-10-07
- 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, Vol. 1: Energy and Macronutrients (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
- 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans — summary tables (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
- NASEM Dietary Reference Intakes summary tables (Appendix J, 2019) · checked 2026-10-07
The sentences are plain-language summaries of official sources written by SuppleBoard. Each English sentence was checked against the source text by an AI reviewer before publishing. The agencies do not endorse this site. Published 2026-10-16.