Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do monounsaturated fats differ from polyunsaturated fats?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Fat
Palmitic acid is one of the most prevalent fatty acids occurring in the oils and fats of animals; it also occurs naturally in palm oil. It is generated through the addition of an acetyl group to multiple malonyl groups connected by single bonds between carbons. This structure forms a saturated acid—a major component of solid glycerides.
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are both types of unsaturated fats, meaning their fatty acid chains contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond and are not fully saturated with hydrogen atoms. They differ primarily in the number of these double bonds present in their molecular structure:123
- Monounsaturated fats: These molecules contain exactly one double bond. Common sources include olive oil, peanut oil, and canola oil. They are often considered beneficial for heart health because they can help lower total cholesterol, bad cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides.13
- Polyunsaturated fats: These molecules contain two or more double bonds. They are commonly found in fish, soybeans, mayonnaise, and various vegetable oils like corn oil and safflower oil. Polyunsaturated fats provide essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6 acids, which the body cannot synthesize on its own and are necessary for healthy skin and cell development.132
Both types of fats are typically liquid at room temperature due to their chemical structure.13