This high purity fatty acid is ideal as a standard and for biological studies. Odd numbered fatty acids occur in small amounts in mammals but are found in much larger amounts in bacteria and in some plants and lower animals. Due to difficulties in their identification the properties and functions of odd numbered fatty acids have not been fully studied, but with better analytical techniques and high purity standards they are now gaining more prevalence in research.1 Odd numbered fatty acids are found in small amounts acylated to various sphingolipids where they have unique properties and functions.2 Microbial fatty acid profiles, which often contain significant amounts of odd numbered fatty acids, are unique from one species to another and can therefore be used in the determination of bacterial identity.3 Sphingolipids are normally acylated with longchain fatty acids and are critical in many biological functions. When acylated with shorter fatty acids these sphingolipids can more easily cross the cell membrane barrier. Saturated fatty acids have been found to cause moderate risk of coronary heart disease as compared with polyunsaturated fatty acids and they significantly lower the total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio as compared with carbohydrates.4
