Holiday Notification: Cayman Chemical will be closed Monday, May 28, 2012, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.
More…
Please feel free to continue placing orders via our website or via fax at 734-971-3640. You may send an email to customer service at custserv@caymanchem.com , or to technical support at techserv@caymanchem.com which we will respond to the next business day. Cayman will resume regular business hours and shipping schedules on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Stearic acid is a long-chain saturated fatty acid that can be derived from either animal fats or vegetable oils. Compared to other long-chain saturated fatty acids that are hypercholesterolemic, experimental diets high in stearic acid (9.3-11.8% of energy) do not raise plasma total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol concentrations but may slightly reduce HDL-cholesterol concentrations.1,2 Stearic acid can be used as a hardening agent for vegetable oils and due to its negligible effect on cholesterol metabolism may be used as an alternative to modification of fatty acids by partial hydrogenation.3,4
1
Yu, S., Derr, J., Etherton, T.D., et al. Plasma cholesterol-predictive equations demonstrate that stearic acid is neutral and monounsaturated fatty acids are hypocholesterolemic. Am J Clin Nutr611129-1139(1995).
2
Aro, A., Jauhiainen, M., Partanen, R., et al. Stearic acid, trans fatty acids, and dairy fat: effects on serum and lipoprotein lipids, apolipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), and lipid transfer proteins in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr651419-1426(1997).
3
Zock, P.L., and Katan, M.B. Hydrogenation alternatives: effects of trans fatty acids and stearic acid versus linoleic acid on serum lipids and lipoproteins in humans. J Lipid Res33399-410(1992).
4
Sundram, K., Karupaiah, T., and Hayes, K.C. Stearic acid-rich interesterified fat and trans-rich fat raise the LDL/HDL ratio and plasma glucose relative to palm olein in humans. Nutr Metab4(3)1-12(2007).
Formal Name
Octadecanoic acid
CAS Number
57-11-4
Molecular Formula
C18H34O2
Formula Weight
284.5
Formulation
A crystalline solid
Purity
≥98%
Stability
2 years
Storage
-20°C
Shipping
Room temperature
in continental US; may vary elsewhere
SMILES
Copy SMILES to clipboard
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O
Background Reading
Yu, S., Derr, J., Etherton, T.D., et al. Plasma cholesterol-predictive equations demonstrate that stearic acid is neutral and monounsaturated fatty acids are hypocholesterolemic. Am J Clin Nutr611129-1139(1995).
Sundram, K., Karupaiah, T., and Hayes, K.C. Stearic acid-rich interesterified fat and trans-rich fat raise the LDL/HDL ratio and plasma glucose relative to palm olein in humans. Nutr Metab4(3)1-12(2007).
Aro, A., Jauhiainen, M., Partanen, R., et al. Stearic acid, trans fatty acids, and dairy fat: effects on serum and lipoprotein lipids, apolipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), and lipid transfer proteins in healthy subjects. Am J Clin Nutr651419-1426(1997).
Zock, P.L., and Katan, M.B. Hydrogenation alternatives: effects of trans fatty acids and stearic acid versus linoleic acid on serum lipids and lipoproteins in humans. J Lipid Res33399-410(1992).