Unique to humans, it takes its scientific name from the root sapiens.

Deficient production of sapienic acid has been implicated in the development of atopic dermatitis,[2] and sapienic acid has potent antibacterial activity against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus.

[3][4] Reduced omega-3 intake has been linked to lower sapienic acid levels in sebum.

In other tissues linoleic acid is the target for delta 6 desaturase, but linoleic acid is degraded in sebaceous cells, allowing the enzyme to desaturate palmitic to sapienic acid.

Sapienic acid can lead to the decanal which is likely what mosquitoes use to identify human prey.