Question: are omega 3 fatty acids essential?
Answer: Omega-3 Fatty Acids: An Essential Contribution. The human body can make most of the types of fats it needs from other fats or raw materials. That isn't the case for omega-3 fatty acids (also called omega-3 fats and n-3 fats). These are essential fats—the body can't make them from scratch but must get them from food.