Question

Saturated Fat:

(1) What are saturated fats, from a biochemical perspective? Discuss in detail, and in terms of what is presented in this course’s lessons and materials.

(2) How are saturated fats different from unsaturated fats, from a chemical and structural perspective, and what chemical and physical properties does this lead them to possess?

(3) Which type of fats are “healthier,” saturated or unsaturated? Explain why.

Answer 1

1. Saturated fats are unbranched, straight linear chains of CH2 groups linked by Carbon-carbon single bonds with one carboxylic acid group. In saturated fats, there is maximum possible hydrogen bonding and there are no double bonds,

( The course detail is not mentioned here so the answer has been written from the accepted perspective )

2. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are different in the way that unsaturated fats contain one or more double bonds and do not have maximum hydrogen bonding while saturated fats have no double bonds and have maximum hydrogen bonding. Because of these double bonds, unsaturated fats tend to be liquid at room temperatures while the saturated fatty acids are solids at room temperature. The saturated fatty acids are less fluid in nature, due to the stiff single hydrogen bonded atoms, while the unsaturated fats are more fluidic in nature as they have double bonds and can move more easily.

3. The unsaturated fats are considered to be more healthy. Saturated fats deposit in the blood vessels and increase levels of cholesterol. This deposition on the blood vessels leads to increased blood pressure and may affect the heart. While the unsaturated fatty acids replace the stiff saturated fats and do not allow deposition on the blood vessels and thus are good for the body. The unsaturated fats instead provide the body with a reserve of energy and ease inflammation in certain cases.