Myristic acid

Fatty acids, both free and as part of complex lipids, play a number of key roles in metabolism – major metabolic fuel (storage and transport of energy), as essential components of all membranes, and as gene regulators.

As part of complex lipids, fatty acids are also important for thermal and electrical insulation, and for mechanical protection.

Myristic acid is a saturated 14-carbon fatty acid occurring in most animal and vegetable fats, particularly butterfat and coconut, palm, and nutmeg oils. It is used to synthesize flavor and as an ingredient in soaps and cosmetics. Myristic Acid is a saturated long-chain fatty acid with a 14-carbon backbone.

Myristic acid is found naturally in palm oil, coconut oil and butter fat. Myristic acid usually accounts for small amounts (less than 1 wt%) of total fatty acids in animal tissues but is abundant in milk fat (7–12 wt% of total fatty acid) or in copra and palmist oils (15–23 wt% and 15–17 wt%, respectively).

Compared with other saturated fatty acids, lauric and myristic acids have the strongest potency to increase serum total and LDL cholesterol concentration and also HDL cholesterol concentrations.
Myristic acid