unsaturated fatty acids

unsaturated fatty acids
fatty acids containing one (monounsaturated) or multiple (polyunsaturated) double bonds; they predominate in most plant-derived fats. The number and position of each double bond can be specified, as in the systematic names, or the position of the double bond closest to the methyl (omega) terminus can be specified to denote functional subdivisions of the overall group, e.g., omega-3 fatty acids (see illustration). The numbers and positions of the double bonds have been linked to effects on plasma lipid, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels; see also polyunsaturated f. a's, monounsaturated f. a's, and accompanying table.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • saturated fatty acids — fatty acids without double bonds in their chains; they occur predominantly in animal fats and tropical oils and can be produced by hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids. Fats composed of saturated fatty acids increase serum low density… …   Medical dictionary

  • monounsaturated fatty acids — unsaturated fatty acids containing a single double bond; they occur predominantly as oleic acid, in peanut, olive, and canola oils. Monounsaturated fatty acids have been shown to reduce low density lipoprotein levels and thus the blood… …   Medical dictionary

  • trans–fatty acids — stereoisomers of the naturally occurring cis–fatty acids, created by the partial hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids during the manufacture of margarine and shortening. Like saturated fatty acids, they raise the levels low density… …   Medical dictionary

  • polyunsaturated fatty acids — (PUFA) unsaturated fatty acids (q.v.) containing two or more double bonds; they occur predominantly as linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids, in vegetable and seed oils. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids can lower plasma lipid levels and… …   Medical dictionary

  • ω-3 fatty acids — omega 3 fatty acids unsaturated fatty acids in which the double bond closest to the methyl (omega) terminus of the molecule occurs at the third carbon from that end; they are present in marine animal fats and some vegetable oils. These fatty… …   Medical dictionary

  • ω-6 fatty acids — omega 6 fatty acids unsaturated fatty acids in which the double bond closest to the methyl (omega) terminus of the molecule occurs at the sixth carbon from that end; they are present predominantly in vegetable and seed oils. Diets in which the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Fatty acid desaturase — Fatty acid desaturase, type 1 Identifiers Symbol Fatty acid desaturase 1 Pfam PF00487 InterPro …   Wikipedia

  • Fatty acid — Not to be confused with fat. Butyric acid, a short chain fatty acid Types of fats in food Unsaturated fat Monounsaturated fat Polyun …   Wikipedia

  • unsaturated — 1. Not saturated; denoting a solution in which the solvent is capable of dissolving more of the solute. 2. Denoting a chemical compound in which all the affinities are not satisfied, so that still other atoms or radicals may be added to it. 3. In …   Medical dictionary

  • unsaturated fat — noun A fat or oil, from either animal or vegetable sources, containing a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids; will typically be liquid at room temperature; a diet high …   Wiktionary

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