Fatty acid of oleic acid

Oleic acid is the most commonly occurring monounsaturated fatty acid and is most concentrated in olive oil but animal fat also contain substantial amounts of these fatty acid.

Oleic acid has 18 carbon atoms, and it has one double bond at position 9 from the carboxyl end.

An isomer of oleic acid is elaidic acid, which has a trans double bond at the 9-position.

When oleic acid is exchanged for dietary saturated fatty acids in the diet, the plasma cholesterol is reduced. 

Oleic acid

In the study of Dougherty and coworkers in 1987, the oleic acid contribution to major fatty acids is the cholesterol ester fraction of plasma was 37.8% among Italian subjects and 18.6% among US subjects although the calculated oleic acid composition of the diets in the two centers was equivalent.

Oleic acid intake is particularly high in the Mediterranean region where large amount of olive oil are consumed. Other sources rich in oleic acid are rapeseed (canola oil), and high-oleic forms of safflower and sunflower.

Peanuts and pecans also are high in oleic acid.
Fatty acid of oleic acid