Triglycerides, 1,3-symmetrical

Symmetrical triglycerides have a higher melting point than asymmetrical molecules containing the same fatty acids (Table 3.16). 

Moore, H., Brench, A.W. and Macrae, A.R. (1991) Process for the preparation of symmetrical triglycerides, European Patent Publication, 0199580 Bl, Unilever, N.V. The Netherlands. 

The major fatty acids present in cocoa butter triglycerides are palmitic acid (P), oleic acid (O), and stearic acid (S). Cocoa butter is composed mainly of symmetrical triglycerides (>75%) with oleic acid in the sn-2 position (POP, POS, SOS) and with trace amounts of asymmetrical triglycerides (PPO, PSO, and SSO) (Shukla, 1995 van Malssen et al., 1996). This natural fat is relatively simple insofar as it is composed of a small number of TAG components and melts over a narrow temperature range, which is important in terms of textural quality (Shukla, 1995). The typical composition of cocoa butter is shown in Table 1. 

The triglyceride chromatograms for palm olein solid fractions collected after 12,15,18, 21, and 24 h at low-temperature (12.5°C) storage were very similar. The unidentified peaks that appeared in the early region of the chromatograms were expected to be of partial glycerides. Evidence of a stable and straight baseline and the sharp and symmetrically defined peaks show the... 

Table 3.16 Effect on the melting point of shortening a single fatty acid chain of triglyceride from 18 to 0 carbon atoms and of esterification position (symmetrical or asymmetrical)...

The benign symmetric lipomatosis Adenolipomatosis of Launois-Bensaude (1), or Madelung s disease (2)) is characterized by multiple, symmetric deposites of subcutaneous fat on the neck, the nape, the back and upper part of the trunk. The etiology of this disease is not known in almost every published case, however, excessive alcohol consumption is common (3) In some cases this disease in accompanied by an additional diabetes (4), by hyperlipoproteinemia of type IV with elevated triglycerides and by hyperuricemia (5) ... 

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