Cis and Trans Fatty Acids

Question 1

What are cis fatty acids?

Answer 1

An unsaturated fatty acid where their hydrogens are both above or both below their carbons at their double bond

Question 2

What type of unsaturated fatty acids are cis fatty acids?

Answer 2

All naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acids

Question 3

What effect do cis fatty acids have on health?

Answer 3

They do not cause the build up of cholesterol on the arteries

Question 4

What are trans fatty acids?

Answer 4

An unsaturated fatty acid where their hydrogens on each side of their carbons at their double bond

Question 5

What type of unsaturated fatty acids are trans fatty acids?

Answer 5

Trans fatty acids do not occur naturally but are formed from cis fatty acids when they are heated or during processing

Question 6

What effect do trans fatty acids have on one’s health?

Answer 6

They raise the level of LDL cholesterol and reduce HDL cholesterol levels

Question 7

Why do trans fatty acids lower levels of HDL cholesterol and increase the levels of LDL cholesterol?

Answer 7

As their structure allows them to behave as a saturated fatty acid