Types of Fatty Acids
Following are some of the different types of fatty acids based on the presence, or absence of double bonds and chain length.
Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids
The key differences between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are:
Features |
Saturated Fatty Acids |
Unsaturated Fatty Acids |
---|---|---|
Structure |
Straight with only single bonds |
Have bends due to the presence of double bonds |
Saturation level |
Saturated due to bonds filled by hydrogen atoms. |
Unsaturated due to double bonds having empty ends. |
Physical State at Room Temperature |
Solid |
Liquid |
Food Sources |
Meat, dairy, butter, etc. |
Fish oil, avocados, nuts, etc. |
Example |
Palmitic acid, stearic acid, etc. |
Oleic acid, omega-3, and omega-6, etc. |
Even Chain and Odd Chain Fatty Acids
The key differences between even-chain and odd-chain fatty acids are:
Features |
Even-Chain Fatty Acids |
Odd-Chain Fatty Acids |
---|---|---|
Number of Carbon Atoms |
Even number |
Odd number |
Structure |
Straight |
Straight |
Metabolic Pathway |
Beta-oxidation in mitochondria |
Beta-oxidation in mitochondria |
Found in |
Dietary fats, oils, and the body’s adipose tissues |
Dietary sources and other fatty acids stored in the body |
Example |
Palmitic acid, stearic acid, etc. |
Pentadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, etc. |
Overview on Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are organic compounds that fall under the category of lipids, which are essential biomacromolecules in the living system. The fatty acid types are saturated, unsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids play an important role in various physiological processes of the living organism, such as metabolism, formation, and maintenance of cell structure. In this article, we will study the structure, properties, function, and type of fatty acids in detail.
Table of Content
- Fatty Acids – Definition and Meaning
- Fatty Acids Formula
- Essential Fatty Acids
- Essential Fatty Acid Foods
- Properties of Fatty Acids
- Structure of Fatty Acids
- Types of Fatty Acids
- Length of Fatty Acids
- Circulation of Fatty Acids
- Fatty Acids Examples
- Functions of Fatty Acids