Elaidic acid is a trans fatty acid commonly found in hydrogenated vegetable oils. Its spelling is "ɛleɪdɪk ˈæsɪd". The first syllable is pronounced "e-lay-dik", with the stress on the second syllable. The second part is pronounced "as-id", stressing on the first syllable. The use of the letter "e" represents the sound at the beginning of the word "elephant". The letters "ai" together represent the long "a" sound, as in "aim". The word "acid" is spelled using the letter "c" and "id" signifies the suffix for an organic acid.
Elaidic acid is a naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acid that belongs to the family of trans fatty acids. It is chemically classified as an 18-carbon chain fatty acid with one double bond in the trans configuration. Elaidic acid is derived from oleic acid, which undergoes an enzymatic process known as hydrogenation to convert its natural cis double bond into a trans double bond.
Elaidic acid is found in small amounts in certain animal fats like beef and mutton as a result of microbial fermentation in their digestive systems. However, it is primarily known for its presence in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are commonly used in food processing and cooking. These oils are created by adding hydrogen to unsaturated vegetable oils to increase their shelf life and stability.
Elaidic acid is considered a trans fatty acid because of the presence of its trans double bond. Trans fats have been linked to numerous adverse health effects, such as increasing levels of LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) and reducing levels of HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Due to their negative health impact, the consumption of trans fatty acids, including elaidic acid, has been discouraged and regulated in many countries. Many food manufacturers have consequently reduced or eliminated partially hydrogenated oils from their products to minimize the intake of trans fats.
The word "Elaidic" comes from the Latin term "elaion", which means "oil". The suffix "-idic" is derived from the classical Greek term "idos", meaning "related to" or "belonging to". Therefore, "Elaidic" refers to something related to or belonging to oil. The term "acid" is added to indicate its acidic nature. It is worth noting that Elaidic Acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in various oils, particularly in hydrogenated oils.