Category Archives: Fatty Acids

Protein and Lipids: Effects on Gut Function

Posted on August 3, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The dietary macronutrients are protein, carbohydrate and lipids. As well as providing substances required for metabolic regulation, these macronutrients have differing and interesting effects on gut function. In fact the basis of many weight loss diets is through manipulation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cholecystokinin, Digestion and Absorption, Fatty Acids, Glucagon, Glucagon-like Peptide 1, Insulin, Protein, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Protein and Lipids: Effects on Gut Function

Why Nuts Won’t Make You Fat

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Robert Barrington
Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fat, Fatty Acids, Nuts, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Why Nuts Won’t Make You Fat

More On Medium Chain Triglyceride Digestion

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Medium chain fatty acids are defined as those with chain lengths of between 6 and 12 carbon atoms. Medium chain triglycerides are therefore three fatty acids of this length bonded through an ester bond to a glycerol molecule. Compared to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cholecystokinin, Fatty Acids, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Satiety | Comments Off on More On Medium Chain Triglyceride Digestion

Can Your Mother’s Diet Make You Fat?

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The health effects of fatty acids and other lipids in the diet has played an important role in shaping nutritional research over the last 50 years. Saturated fat and cholesterol have been portrayed by mainstream ‘authorities’ as demons run amok … Continue reading →

Posted in Fatty Acids, Genes, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Pregnancy | Comments Off on Can Your Mother’s Diet Make You Fat?

Fatty Acids: You Are What You Eat

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Robert Barrington

High quality diets are protective of disease. However, defining a high quality diet is difficult, but some consensus has been reached in this regard from nutritional scientists. Generally, diets containing high concentrations of processed and manufactured foods with long shelf … Continue reading →

Posted in Adipose Tissue, Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Saturated Fatty Acids, Trans Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Fatty Acids: You Are What You Eat

Homogenised Milk

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The fat in cow’s milk is immiscible in the water soluble component and so forms globules that can coalesce together as cream. Traditionally when milk was bought in milk bottles this cream could be seen floating on the top of … Continue reading →

Posted in Chylomicrons, Digestion and Absorption, Fatty Acids, Milk | Comments Off on Homogenised Milk

Carnitine Supplements: Beneficial or Not?

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Carnitine is a trimethylated amino acid derivative that is required in humans for the transport of fatty acids into mitochondria for β-oxidation. Based on this role, carnitine is sold as a dietary supplement for increasing fat oxidation (fat burning). However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beta Oxidation, Carnitine, Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Carnitine Supplements: Beneficial or Not?

Medium Chain Triglycerides: Good Fuel

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Fat is generally not as good choice of dietary fuel during intense exercise because it is more slowly absorbed and oxidised compared to carbohydrate. This decreases the usefulness of fatty acids as a fuel for energy during athletic performance. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Exercise, Fatty Acids, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols | Tagged , | Comments Off on Medium Chain Triglycerides: Good Fuel

Dietary Fatty Acids: Classification

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Fatty acids are hydrocarbon chains with a carboxylic acid at one end and a methyl group at the other. The dietary fatty acids are a diverse group of lipids and as a result they can be classified in a number … Continue reading →

Posted in Fat, Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Saturated Fatty Acids, Trans Fatty Acids | Tagged | Comments Off on Dietary Fatty Acids: Classification

Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Beyond Eicosanoids

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Unsaturated fatty acids are those that possess a double bond within their structure. A monounsaturated fatty acids therefore has a single double bond, whereas the prefix ‘poly’ signifies multiple double bonds. Unsaturated oils are those that contain a predominance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Adipose Tissue, Fat, Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols | Tagged | Comments Off on Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Beyond Eicosanoids