Last updated on 8-7-2025 by Thérésa Lebacq
Why do we study the intake of omega-6 fatty acids ?
- Omega-6 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that must be obtained from the diet. They are important structural components of cell membranes, play an important role in maintaining key physiological functions and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. There are several types of omega-6 fatty acids:
- LA (linoleic acid): the most important one. It is an essential fatty acid that cannot be synthesised by the body and must therefore be obtained from the diet. It is found in plant-based foods such as sunflower, corn, soya, wheat germ, safflower, and rapeseed oils, nuts and seeds, tofu, margarine, salad dressings and cooking fats.
- ARA (arachidonic acid): although limited, the body can convert this from LA. It is found in animal-based foods such as eggs, poultry, organ meats and fish and shellfish.
- No specific dietary reference value has been established for the whole group of omega-6 fatty acids. As LA is considered to be an essential fatty acid, EFSA recommends an adequate dietary intake to ensure sufficient availability of its longer chain derivatives, like ARA, and to meet physiological needs.
How do we study it?
- Habitual intake of omega-6 fatty acids was analysed using the SPADE® program. The detailed methodology can be found here.
- Habitual intake of omega-6 fatty acids is expressed as a percentage of energy intake (En%). By expressing the intake of omega-6 fatty acids as a percentage of energy intake, comparisons between groups of people with different energy requirements (e.g., between men and women, children and adults) can be done.
- In order to gain insight into the proportion of the population with an adequate intake of LA, the distribution of LA intake was evaluated in relation to the dietary reference value (as adequate intake) of 4 En% set by the European Food Safety Authority.
KEY RESULTS
The overall contribution of omega-6 fatty acids to energy intake is 5.1 En%, of which 4.9 En% is coming from LA
People with a low level of education have a higher intake of omega-6 fatty acids (as proportion of energy intake) than people with a higher level of education
The contribution of omega-6 fatty acids to energy intake is higher in Flanders than in Wallonia
The contribution of omega-6 fatty acid to energy intake increased between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023.
Fats and oils are the main contributor to omega-6 fatty acid intake
By age and sex
Mean intake of omega-6 fatty acids (En%) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily omega-6 fatty acids intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- Overall, the contribution of omega-6 fatty acids to energy intake is 5.1 En%.
- There are no differences in intake of omega-6 fatty acids by sex or by age group.
- Based on the combined average for women and men, adolescents (10 – 17 years) and adults aged 18 – 64 years have the highest fat intake (75 g/day and 78 g/day respectively), followed by adults aged 65 year and above (69 g/day) and children (3 – 9 years; 62 g/day).
Mean intake of linoleic acid (LA) (En%) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from LA in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily LA intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- Overall, the contribution of LA to energy intake is 4.9 En%, which means the majority of omega-6 fatty acid intake comes from this type of fatty acid.
- There are no differences in intake of LA by sex or by age group.
Comparison of the intake of linoleic acid (LA) (En%) by the population aged 3 years and older with the adequate intake value, by age and sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The habitual intake of LA was evaluated against the dietary reference value, defined as an adequate intake of 4 En%.
- There is a low risk of inadequate intake of LA in the population aged 3 years and above. This low risk is observed in both men and women, and across all age groups.
By educational level
Mean intake of omega-6 fatty acids (En%) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily omega-6 fatty acids intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The contribution of omega-6 fatty acids to energy intake is higher in people with a low level of education (5.2 En%) than people with a medium (5.0 En%) or high level of education (4.9 En%).
By region
Mean intake of omega-6 fatty acids (En%) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily omega-6 fatty acids intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- The contribution of omega-6 fatty acids to energy intake is higher in Flanders (5.4 En%) than in Wallonia (4.5 En%).
By year
Mean intake of omega-6 fatty acids (En%) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily omega-6 fatty acids intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The contribution of omega-6 fatty acid to energy intake increased from 4.8 En% in 2014-2015 to 5.1 En% 2022-2023 in the population aged 3–64 years old.
Mean intake of linoleic acid (LA) (En%) in the population aged 3 to 64 years, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- En% = Energy percentage. This represents the proportion of daily energy derived from LA in the diet. It was calculated by multiplying total daily LA intake (g) by 9 kcal per gram and dividing by total daily energy intake (kcal).
- Adults aged 65 years and older are not included as they were not part of the target population of the 2014-2015 survey.
- The contribution of LA to energy intake remained the same between 2014-2015 and 2022-2023 in the population aged 3–64 years old.
Comparison of the intake of linoleic acid (LA) (En%) by the population aged 3 to 64 years with the adequate intake value, by year, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The habitual intake of LA was evaluated against the dietary reference value, defined as an adequate intake of 4 En%.
- In 2022-2023, there is a low risk of inadequate intake of LA in the total population aged 3-64 years, while this is not the case in 2014-2015, as the results do not allow us to determine whether the intake is adequate. Therefore, the possibility of inadequate intake cannot be ruled out for 2014-2015.
Contribution of foods to intake of omega-6 fatty acids
Contribution of foods to intake of omega-6 fatty acids, in the total population aged 3 years and older, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Fats and oils (21%) and meat, meat products and substitutes (including hummus, tofu and vegetarian spreads or pates) (19%) are the main contributors to the intake omega-6 fatty acids. This is followed by cereals and cereal products (15%) and condiments, spices, sauces and yeast (12%).
- It is important to note that while ‘meat, meat products and substitutes’ are not the main dietary source of omega-6 fatty acids, the substantial daily intake of foods from this group by the population in Belgium explains their high contribution to omega-6 fatty acid intake.
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Macronutrients: Omega-6 fatty acids, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/fats/omega-6-fatty-acids