Omega-9 fatty acid

For an explanation of n and numerical nomenclature (such as n−9 or 18:1), see Fatty acid § Nomenclature.

Omega-9 fatty acids (ω−9 fatty acids or n−9 fatty acids) are a family of unsaturated fatty acids which have in common a final carbon–carbon double bond in the omega−9 position; that is, the ninth bond from the methyl end of the fatty acid.

Background

Some omega−9 fatty acids are common components of animal fat and vegetable oil. Two omega−9 fatty acids important in industry are:

Unlike omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acid, omega−9 fatty acids are not classed as essential fatty acids (EFA). This is both because they can be created by the human body from unsaturated fat, and are therefore not essential in the diet, and because the lack of an omega−6 double bond keeps them from participating in the reactions that form the eicosanoids.

Under severe conditions of EFA deprivation, mammals will elongate and desaturate oleic acid to make mead acid, (20:3, n−9).[1] This has been documented to a lesser extent in one study following vegetarians and semi-vegetarians who followed diets without substantial sources of EFA.[2]

Omega−9 fatty acids
Common name Lipid name Chemical name
oleic acid 18:1 (n−9) (Z)-octadec-9-enoic acid
elaidic acid 18:1 (n−9) (E)-octadec-9-enoic acid
gondoic acid 20:1 (n−9) (Z)-eicos-11-enoic acid
mead acid 20:3 (n−9) (5Z,8Z,11Z)-eicosa-5,8,11-trienoic acid
erucic acid 22:1 (n−9) (Z)-docos-13-enoic acid
nervonic acid 24:1 (n−9) (Z)-tetracos-15-enoic acid

See also

References

  1. Lipomics. "Mead acid". Retrieved February 14, 2006.
  2. Phinney SD, Odin RS, Johnson SB, Holman RT (March 1990). "Reduced arachidonate in serum phospholipids and cholesteryl esters associated with vegetarian diets in humans". Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 51 (3): 385–92. PMID 2106775.

External links

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