noun

• A polyunsaturated fatty acid present in animal fats. It is important in metabolism, especially in the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and is an essential constituent of the diet.

  Alternative name: eicosa-5,8,11,14-enoic acid; chemical formula: C₁₉H₃₁COOH

  ‘Those essential nutrients - including taurine, arachidonic acid, and vitamin A - abound in meat.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Psoriatic plaques have been shown to increase arachidonic acid and leukotriene levels compared to normal skin.’
  • ‘The fats in animal products break down into arachidonic acid, a pro-inflammatory fatty acid.’
  • ‘The endothelium prevents platelets from adhering by manufacturing prostacyclin from arachidonic acid.’
  • ‘Enzyme inhibition prevents the formation of thromboxane A 2 from arachidonic acid.’