Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Lipids > Fatty Acids > Fatty Acids, Unsaturated Terms and Definitions

Fatty Acids, Unsaturated

Medical Definition:	FATTY ACIDS in which the carbon chain contains one or more double or triple carbon-carbon bonds.
Guide Notes:	GEN or unspecified; prefer specific groups or specific acid
Also Called:	Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Previously Indexed:	Fatty Acids, Essential (1966-1972)

Fatty Acids, Unsaturated Categories.

	Arachidonic Acids
	Eicosanoids - A class of compounds named after and generally derived from C20 fatty acids (EICOSANOIC ACIDS) that includes PROSTAGLANDINS; LEUKOTRIENES; THROMBOXANES, and HYDROXYEICOSATETRAENOIC ACIDS. They have hormone-like effects mediated by specialized receptors (RECEPTORS, EICOSANOID).
	Fatty Acids, Essential - Long chain organic acid molecules that must be obtained from the diet. Examples are LINOLEIC ACIDS and LINOLENIC ACIDS.
	Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated - Fatty acids which are unsaturated in only one position.
	Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - FATTY ACIDS which have the first unsaturated bond in the sixth position from the omega carbon. A typical American diet tends to contain substantially more omega-6 than OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS.
	Ionomycin - A divalent calcium ionophore that is widely used as a tool to investigate the role of intracellular calcium in cellular processes.
	Sorbic Acid - Mold and yeast inhibitor. Used as a fungistatic agent for foods, especially cheeses.
	Trans Fatty Acids - UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS that contain at least one double bond in the trans configuration, which results in a greater bond angle than the cis configuration. This results in a more extended fatty acid chain similar to SATURATED FATTY ACIDS, with closer packing and reduced fluidity. HYDROGENATION of unsaturated fatty acids increases the trans content.

Fatty Acids, Unsaturated Medical Definitions and Terms

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