Medical expert of the article
New publications
What can essential fatty acid deficiency lead to?
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency is rare and most commonly occurs in infants whose diets are deficient in EFA. Symptoms include scaly dermatitis, alopecia, thrombocytopenia, and growth retardation in children. Diagnosis is clinical. Dietary EFA supplementation reverses the deficiency.
Linoleic and linolenic acids - EFA - are substrates for the endogenous synthesis of other fatty acids, which are necessary for many physiological processes, including maintaining the integrity of the skin and cell membranes, the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. For example, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, synthesized from EFA, are essential components of the brain and retina.
Dietary intake of EFAs must be very low for EFA deficiency to develop. Even small amounts of EFAs can prevent deficiency. Cow's milk contains approximately 25% of the linoleic acid found in human milk, but when cow's milk is consumed in normal amounts, the intake of linoleic acid is sufficient to prevent EFA deficiency. Total fat intake in many developing countries may be very low, but because this fat is often of plant origin, with high levels of linoleic and linolenic acids, plant fat intake is sufficient to prevent EFA deficiency.
Infants fed with formulas containing linoleic acid-deficient formulas (skim milk formulas) may develop FA deficiency. FA deficiency may also result from prolonged PPT if it did not include lipids. However, most PPT solutions now include fat emulsions to prevent FA deficiency. In patients with lipid malabsorption syndrome or increased metabolic demands (e.g., surgery, multiple trauma, burns), the diagnosis of FA deficiency may be made based on laboratory findings in the absence of clinical manifestations. FA deficiency dermatitis is generalized and scaly; in infants, it may resemble congenital ichthyosis and increases skin dehydration.
Diagnosis is usually clinical; however, laboratory tests confirming EFA deficiency are now available at major research centers.
Treatment consists of mandatory intake of fatty acids with food, which completely compensates for their deficiency.