Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid-containing microbial oil and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid-containing microbial biomass

A method of producing a lower alcohol ester composition or free fatty acid composition comprising dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, comprising:

• (a) producing a dihomo-γ-linolenic acid-containing microbial oil by culturing a microbe in a liquid culture medium to produce the dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, the microbe being a microbe with an arachidonic acid-producing function which has been inhibited by reduced or lost Δ5 desaturation activity, optionally in the presence of one, two or more types of Δ5 desaturase inhibitor in the liquid culture medium, to produce said microbial oil in which a weight ratio of arachidonic acid relative to dihomo-γ-linolenic acid is less than 1/13;
• (b) by hydrolysis or alcoholysis of the microbial oil, obtaining a mixture of free fatty acids or lower alcohol esters containing dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, optionally after purification of the oil;
• and
• (c) purifying the mixture of free fatty acids or lower alcohol esters.