FATS

SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FATS

- Definition
- Source and Composition
- Differences
- The need to convert unsaturated fats to saturated
fats
- Effect of fats on health
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 Q1. I know of saturated and unsaturated sugar
solutions, but I do not understand what saturated
and unsaturated fats are. Can you explain?

Of course, let me explain to you. The physical and chemical properties of a fats or oil molecule are greatly
affected by the parent fatty acids. The fatty acids can be different in two main ways:
Firstly, the length of the carbon chain can differ ranging from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. For example, lauric acid(saturated fatty acid)
has 12 carbon atoms while stearic acid(unsaturated fatty acid) has 18 carbon atoms.
Secondly, the fatty acid may be saturated or unsaturated. A saturated fatty acid has all carbon atoms joined together by carbon-carbon
single bonds. In an unsaturated fatty acid, the carbon chain has one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. The fatty acid molecule
has one carbon-carbon double bond is described as monounsaturated; more than one carbon-carbon double bond is known as
polyunsaturated.
Fats which contain esters of glycerol and saturated fatty acids are classified as saturated fats. Animal
fats containing a large proportion of saturated esters tend to have high melting points are solids at
room temperature.
Fats which contain esters of glycerol and unsaturated fatty acids are classified as unsaturated fats.
Plant or vegetable oils contain a large proportion of unsaturated esters. They have lower melting points
and are liquids at room temperature.
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 Summary

Fatty acid Formula Number of Type of fatty

carbon acid
atoms
Lauric acid CH3-(CH2)10-COOH 12 Saturated
Palmitic acid CH3-(CH2)14-COOH 16 Saturated
Stearic acid CH3-(CH2)16-COOH 18 Saturated
Oleic acid CH3-(CH2)7-CH=CH-(CH2)7-COOH 18 Unsaturated
Linoleic acid CH3-(CH2)4-CH=CH-CH2-CH=CH(CH2)7-COOH 18 Unsaturated
Linolenic acid CH3-CH2-CH=CH-CH2-CH=CH-CH2-CH=CH-(CH2)7-COOH 18 Unsaturated

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 Q3. What are the differences between saturated and
unsaturated fats?

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Saturated fats Difference Unsaturated fats

The fatty acids in saturated fats do not Presence of double The fatty acid in unsaturated fats have at least one
have any double bond between the bond C=C double bond. This means the carbon atoms in
carbon atoms the hydrocarbon chain are not bonded to the
maximum number of hydrogen atoms.
Solids Condition in room Liquids
temperature
Raises the level of LDL (bad Affect in Increase the ratio of HDL (good cholesterol) to
cholesterol) in the blood cholesterol in the LDL and lowers the levels of total cholesterol
blood and LDL in the blood.
Unable. This is because all the bonds Ability to react with Able.
between the carbon atoms have the additional hydrogen
maximum number of hydrogen atoms. atoms
Animal fats(lard), red meat, coconut Example Corn oil, olive oil and soybean oil
oil, palm kernel oil, full cream milk
and butter
 Q5. I have a friend who eats too much food high in fats.
What are the effects of fats on health? I need more
information so that I can advise him to avoid such an
unhealthy diet
Fatty food are very high in energy. One gram of fat releases about 9 kilocalories of energy. Hence, high in
fats and oils is likely to result in obesity. An obese person is prone to suffer from heart disease and other
disease such as diabetes.
Medical researchers have found that animal fats pose a greater risk for coronary heart disease and
strokes than vegetable oils. Saturated fats contain a lot of cholesterol.
The food high in saturated fats will raise the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream. The cholesterol causes fatty deposits or
plaque on the walls of veins or arteries. As the plaque builds up on the walls of the blood vessels, blood circulation is restricted
and it will raise the blood pressure.
Hardening of the arteries occurs if the deposits take place in the heart arteries. This will cause the occur of arteriosclerosis,
preventing adequate supply of blood from reaching the heart and can cause heart attack.
High-density lipoproteins(HDL) is called the good cholesterol because it can reduce the risk of heart disease. High levels of
low-density lipoproteins(LDL) is also known as bad cholesterol, increase the risk of heart disease.
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