About the structure and biological function of UFA
Structure. Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) belong to the group of fatty acids within the fatty acyls. Their structure consists of a hydrocarbon chain with a carboxylic head group. The hydrocarbon chain is unsaturated, it contains at least one double bond. Unsaturated fatty acids with multiple double bonds are termed polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Unsaturated fatty acids can be branched or linear.
Function. Unsaturated fatty acids are important components of the cell membrane as they help maintain membrane fluidity. They make up a high proportion of the fatty acids in natural lipids, and many animal species lack the capacity to synthesize all required UFAs – they rely on dietary intake. Comparatively high intake of unsaturated fatty acids has been claimed to positively impact health and lower the risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
