Definition

1. Noun:
   • A monounsaturated fatty acid: Elaidic acid is a specific type of fatty acid characterized by having one double bond in its carbon chain (monounsaturated).
   • A trans fatty acid: It is distinguished by the trans configuration of its double bond, which gives it different physical and chemical properties compared to its cis counterpart.
   • Structural isomer of oleic acid: It shares the same chemical formula as oleic acid but differs in the spatial arrangement (stereochemistry) around the double bond.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hydrogenation of vegetable oils can produce elaidic acid.
  • Nutritionists advise limiting the intake of elaidic acid due to its negative health effects.
  • Elaidic acid is a major trans fat found in partially hydrogenated oils.

Advanced Usage

• Biochemical Context: In biochemistry, elaidic acid is often studied as a model trans fatty acid to understand its impact on cell membrane fluidity and cholesterol metabolism.

  • Research compares how elaidic acid and oleic acid incorporate into phospholipid bilayers.

• Food Science Context: The term is used when analyzing the composition of processed foods.

  • The food label now requires declaration of elaidic acid content under trans fats.

Variants and Related Words

• Oleic acid (n): The isomer of elaidic acid, a common and healthier monounsaturated fat found in olive oil.
• Trans fatty acid / trans fat (n): The broader category to which elaidic acid belongs.
• Isomer (n): A compound with the same formula but a different structure, like elaidic acid and oleic acid.

Synonyms

• 9-trans-Octadecenoic acid: The systematic IUPAC chemical name for elaidic acid.
• Trans-oleic acid: A descriptive synonym highlighting its relationship to oleic acid.

Related Phrases / Compounds

• Elaidic acid content: Refers to the amount of this acid present in a substance.
  • The new processing method reduces the elaidic acid content in the margarine.
• Elaidic acid isomerization: The chemical process of converting oleic acid to elaidic acid.
  • Isomerization during industrial processing forms elaidic acid.

Noun

1. a monounsaturated fatty acid that has the same structure as oleic acid except that it is a trans fatty acid; the major trans fatty acid in margarine and fried foods