Oleic acid (OA) has an 18-carbon backbone with one double bond at the 9th position (18:1n9). Oleic acid’s main dietary source is olive oil, and it is also available as a supplement. OA can also be synthesized in the body by adding a double bond to stearic acid using the enzyme delta-9-desaturase. Oleic acid is important in cell membrane fluidity and has attracted a lot of positive attention due the amount of olive oil found in the ‘Mediterranean diet.’ OA’s antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory effects have been extensively studied and found to be beneficial in many conditions such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, wound healing, and infection. There is also literature to suggest that OA may be a selective biomarker of isolated impaired glucose tolerance regardless of fasting glucose. OA can lower blood lipids- mainly total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. It also dampens the inflammatory response within the vascular endothelium.
References:
- Carrillo Pérez C, Cavia Camarero MdM, Alonso de la Torre S. Antitumor effect of oleic acid; mechanisms of action. A review. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 2012, v 27, n 6 (NoviembreDiciembre), p 1860-1865. 2012.
- Sales-Campos H, Reis de Souza P, Crema Peghini B, Santana da Silva J, Ribeiro Cardoso C. An overview of the modulatory effects of oleic acid in health and disease. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry. 2013;13(2):201-210.
- Parthasarathy S, Khoo JC, Miller E, Barnett J, Witztum JL, Steinberg D. Low density lipoprotein rich in oleic acid is protected against oxidative modification: implications for dietary prevention of atherosclerosis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1990;87(10):3894-3898.
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- Cobb J, Eckhart A, Motsinger-Reif A, Carr B, Groop L, Ferrannini E. α-Hydroxybutyric acid is a selective metabolite biomarker of impaired glucose tolerance. Diabetes Care. 2016;39(6):988-995.
- Lopez-Huertas E. Health effects of oleic acid and long chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) enriched milks. A review of intervention studies. Pharmacological research. 2010;61(3):200-207.
- Carluccio MA, Massaro M, Bonfrate C, et al. Oleic Acid Inhibits Endothelial Activation. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 1999;19(2):220-228.
- Urpi-Sarda M, Casas R, Chiva-Blanch G, et al. Virgin olive oil and nuts as key foods of the Mediterranean diet effects on inflammatory biomakers related to atherosclerosis. Pharmacol Res. 2012;65(6):577-583.
- Yary T, Voutilainen S, Tuomainen T-P, Ruusunen A, Nurmi T, Virtanen JK. Serum n–6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, Δ5- and Δ6-desaturase activities, and risk of incident type 2 diabetes in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2016;103(5):1337-1343.
- Lee JM, Lee H, Kang S, Park WJ. Fatty Acid Desaturases, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Regulation, and Biotechnological Advances. Nutrients. 2016;8(1).
Oleic 18:1 n9
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