It was surprising to read in the Journal that certain n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), long considered essential nutrients, were deemed unfavorable (1). For years, Americans have been urged to substitute unsaturated fatty acids, including polyunsaturated ones, for saturated ones, with the result that the US consumption of PUFAs is about 7% of energy or more, most of which comes from linoleic acid (2). This increase has been associated with decreased mortality from coronary heart disease and lower incidence of myocardial infarction (3).
