Palmitic Acid in Early Human Development

Abstract

Palmitic acid (16:0) is a saturated fatty acid present in the diet and synthesized endogenously. Although often considered to have adverse effects on chronic disease in adults, 16:0 is an essential component of membrane, secretory, and transport lipids, with crucial roles in protein palmitoylation and signal molecules. At birth, the term infant is 13-15% body fat, with 45-50% 16:0, much of which is derived from endogenous synthesis in the fetus. After birth, the infant accumulates adipose tissue at high rates, reaching 25% body weight as fat by 4-5 months age. Over this time, human milk provides 10% dietary energy as 16:0, but in unusual triglycerides with 16:0 on the glycerol center carbon. This paper reviews the synthesis and oxidation of 16:0 and possible reasons why the infant is endowed with large amounts of fat and 16:0. The marked deviations in tissues with displacement of 16:0 that can occur in infants fed vegetable oil formulas is introduced. Assuming fetal fatty acid synthesis and the unusual delivery of 16:0 in human milk evolved to afford survival advantage to the neonate, it is timely to question if 16:0 is an essential component of tissue lipids whereby both deficiency and excess are detrimental.

Perinatal triphenyl phosphate exposure accelerates type 2 diabetes onset and increases adipose accumulation in UCD-type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

“…Changes in free fatty acids [54,55] are recognized to contribute to impairments of glucose homeostasis. In particular, palmitic acid, cis-9-palmitoleic acid, oleic acid, and cis-vaccenic acid were increased by perinatal TPhP exposure in our diabetes study, and these fatty acids along with the stearic acid-palmitic acid have been positively linked to insulin resistance, leptin resistance, T2DM, inflammation, and heart disease [51–53,56–59]. This is the first evidence that low-level, developmental exposure to TPhP can increase the risk of developing insulin resistance and T2DM, and that this risk is linked to alterations of circulating fatty acids.…”

Rhynchophorus palmarum used in Traditional Medicine in the Peruvian Amazon

“…Futhermore, palmitic acid is the most common saturated fatty acid in animals (Waite et al 1962) and plays a key role in various fundamental biological functions. It is also an important component of human breast milk, and previous studies have suggested it is critical for proper infant health (Innis 2016). Additionally, animal studies have shown that this saturated fatty acid has mild antiatherosclerotic and antioxidant properties (Elagbar et al 2016).…”

Downregulation of sirtuin 3 by palmitic acid increases the oxidative stress, impairment of mitochondrial function, and apoptosis in liver cells

“…Major dietary sources of PA include meat and dairy products, palm oil, cocoa butter, as well as, olive oil. Interestingly, 20% to 30% of the total fats in breast milk is composed of PA . Its excess availability in the blood and other tissues can induce cellular dysfunction and cell death in a number of cell types.…”