Organic acid carbon chain length effect

The mechanism by which accumulation of phytanic acid may produce the features of the disease is not known. The possibility of competitive depression of another, essential fatty acid is not supported by available data low concentrations of acids, such as linoleic or other polyenoic acids are relative rather than absolute when the increase in total lipid content of involved organs is considered. It is possible that certain effects result from the particular molecular structure of phytanic acid, since it possesses four methyl groups and is considerably less polar than acids of similar chain length (palmitic) on one hand and the straight chain fatty acids with the same number of carbon atoms (C-20, eicosanoic acid) on the other. The methyl groups rather than the carboxyl group may determine the behaviour of the acid and its interactions, for instance, with membrane lipids of nerves or with the conducting system. 

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