Which of the 3 components of fatty acids raise the serum total and LDL cholesterol levels?
Each triglyceride particle contains a saturated, a monounsaturated, and a polyunsaturated fatty acid. There is no such thing as a pure saturated fatty acid or a pure monounsaturated or a pure polyunsaturated fatty acid. The question is which one is dominant in the triglyceride particles. The saturated portion, when dominant, clearly raises our total and LDL cholesterol levels; the mono- and polyunsaturated, when dominant, either lower them or have a neutral effect. Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature, and that fact is easy to remember by the s in saturated. The fatty acids with the highest saturated component are coconut oil, palm kernel oil, beef tallow, and butter. Olive oil has the highest monounsaturated percentage (approximately 75%); peanut oil has approximately 50% monounsaturated fatty acids. Grundy and colleagues (11) have demonstrated that monounsaturated fatty acids have healthier features than do polyunsaturated fatty acids. 11. What percentage of reduction
