What are omega-3 fatty acids?

Omega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated fat. They’re deemed essential fatty acids because
they’re necessary for health but cannot be made by your body. 
Thus, you must get them from your diet.
Rather than being stored and used for energy, they play important roles in many bodily
processes, including inflammation, heart health, and brain function.
Omega-3 deficiency is associated with lower intelligence, depression, heart disease,
arthritis, cancer, and many other health problems.

Three most important type of Omega-3 Fatty acids:

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that have numerous health benefits.
However, not all omega-3s are created equal. Among 11 types, the 3 most important are
ALA, EPA, and DHA.
ALA is mostly found in plants, while EPA and DHA are mostly found in animal foods like
fatty fish.

ALA (alpha-linolenic acid):

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the most common omega-3 fatty acid in your diet. It’s mostly
found in plant foods and is an essential precursor of EPA or DHA . 
However, this conversion process is inefficient in humans. Only a small percentage of ALA
is converted into EPA — and even less into DHA.
When ALA is not converted to EPA or DHA, it is simply stored or used as energy like other
fats.
Some observational studies link a diet rich in ALA to a reduced risk of death from heart
disease, while others show an increased risk of prostate cancer.
This increase in prostate cancer risk was not associated with the other main omega-3 types,
EPA and DHA, which seem to protect against this cancer.
ALA is found in many plant foods, including kale, spinach, purslane, soybeans, walnuts, and
many seeds, such as chia, flax, and hemp. It also occurs in some animal fats. Some seed oils,
such as flaxseed and rapeseed (canola) oil, are also high in ALA.

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid):

Your body uses eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to produce signaling molecules called
eicosanoids, which play numerous physiological roles and reduce inflammation.
Chronic, low-level inflammation is known to drive several common diseases.
Various studies indicate that fish oil, which is high in EPA and DHA, may reduce symptoms
of depression. Some evidence suggests that EPA is superior to DHA in this regard
One study in menopausal women noted that EPA reduced their number of hot flashes.
Both EPA and DHA are mostly found in seafood, including fatty fish and algae. For this
reason, they are often called marine omega-3s. EPA concentrations are highest in
herring, salmon, eel, shrimp, and sturgeon. Grass-fed animal products, such as dairy and
meats, also contain some EPA.

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid):

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an important structural component of your skin and the
retinas in your eyes.
Fortifying baby formula with DHA leads to improved vision in infants.
DHA is vital for brain development and function in childhood, as well as brain function in
adults.
Early-life DHA deficiency is associated with problems later on, such as learning disabilities,
ADHD, and aggressive hostility.
A decrease in DHA in later life is also linked to impaired brain function and the onset of
Alzheimer’s disease.
DHA may have positive effects on certain conditions, such as arthritis, high blood pressure,
type 2 diabetes, and some cancers
What’s more, it can boost heart health by reducing blood triglycerides and possibly your
number of LDL (bad) cholesterol particles.
As mentioned above, DHA is found in high amounts in seafood, including fatty fish and
algae. Grass-fed animal products also contain some DHA.

Omega-3 and 6
Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), meaning they
contain more than one cis double bond (1). In all omega-6 (ω6 or n-6) fatty acids, the first
double bond is located between the sixth and seventh carbon atom from the methyl end of the
fatty acid. Likewise, all omega-3 fatty acids (ω3 or n-3) have at least one double bond
between the third and fourth carbon atom counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid.
Scientific abbreviations for fatty acids tell the reader something about their chemical
structure. For example, the scientific abbreviation for α-linolenic acid (ALA) is 18:3n-3. The
first part (18:3) tells the reader that ALA is an 18-carbon fatty acid with three double bonds,
while the second part (n-3) tells the reader that the first double bond is in the n-3 position,
which defines this fatty acid as an omega-3 (Figures 1a & b). Double bonds introduce kinks
in the hydrocarbon chain that influence the structure and physical properties of the fatty acid
molecule (Figure 1c).
Reference:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet. (2008, November 25).
WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/omega-3-fatty-acids-fact-sheet