The specific distribution of fatty acids in the glycerides of vegetable fats.

Earlier studies of several vegetable fats (1, 2) demonstrated that the saturated fatty acids of the triglycerides are found almost exclusivelyin the Iand 3-positions. The saturated acids in these species were predominantly palmitic and stearic. The advent of suitable gas-liquid chromatographic techniques makes possible a more detailed study of the distribution of individual fatty acids in triglycerides. This report covers a number of seed fats that contain fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, having a chain length of more than 18 carbon atoms. These fatty acids also show a specific distribution in that they are found almost exclusively in the land 3-positions of the triglyceride molecule.