Oleic acid is a a monounsaturated omega-9-fatty acid. that occurs naturally in many animal and plant, fats and oils.
It’s odourless and colourless with a chemical formula C18H34O2. It’s called omega-9 fatty acid because it has a double bond on the 9th carbon from the CH3 (methyl end) of the hydrocarbon chain.
The word oleic means related to or derived from olive. oil. Olive oil is predominantly composed of oleic acid (55-83%) (PROTA)
Oleic acid also makes up 59-75% of Pecan oil; 61% of Canola oil; 36-67% of Peanut oil; 60% of Macadamia oil; 20-85% of Sunflower oil; 15-20% of grape seed and sesame oil and 14% of poppy seed oil.
Oleic is abundant in many animal fats, and constitutes 37-56% of chicken and turkey fat and 44-47% of lard.
Oleic acid is the most abundant fatty acid in human adipose tissue besides palmitic acid (C16H32O2)
Use of Oleic Acid
Oleic acid is a common monounsaturated fat in human diet. Consumption of monounsaturated fat has been associates with decreased low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
It’s used to make soap, in pharmaceuticals and in making aerosol products.
Last Updated: August 12, 2019
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