What Are trans-Monoenoic Fatty Acids & What Foods Can I Find It In?

trans-Monoenoic fatty acids are found both naturally in ruminant meat and dairy products and are industrially produced.

trans-monoenoic fatty acids are classified as monounsaturated trans fatty acids.

The most abundant monoenoic fatty acids in animal and plant tissues are straight-chain compounds with 16 or 18 carbon atoms.

trans-fatty acids, which have been hydrogenated, have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Harmful trans-Monoenoic Fatty Acids

The current nutritional view is that dietary trans-monoenoic fatty acids, especially those from industrial hydrogenation processes, should be considered harmful. (source )

Industrial hydrogenation of vegetable oils is largely the main source of trans fatty acids in our diet. (source )

The process of hydrogenation adds hydrogen atoms to the oil. It will reduce the number of unsaturated fatty acids and increase the number of saturated fatty acids in the oil.

Limit your intake of hydrogenated vegetable oils

Consumption of high levels of saturated fatty acids is associated with higher risk of diseases, like coronary heart disease.

Therefore, should your intake of saturated fatty acids and industrial hydrogenated vegetable oils be limited.

Natural trans-Fatty Acids

Research is showing that natural trans-fatty acids, such as those found in ruminant meat and dairy products are actually neutral towards health. Not good nor bad. (source )

Natural trans-Monoenoic fatty acids are usually found in the meat and milk of ruminant animals, marine oils and fish oils, such as fish oil, shrimps, and crabs.

Examples of trans-monoenoic fatty acids:

Foods You Can Find trans-Monoenoic Fatty Acids In

You find trans-Monoenoic Fatty Acids mostly in fats and oils, and snack products.

Examples of food sources include

Foods in our nutrition tool

You can find regularly updated top-ranked lists of foods for over 200+ nutrients in our nutrition tool.

If you are interested in what foods contain the most trans-Monoenoic Fatty Acids, we recommend you visit our tool.

Here's our top-ranked list of foods that contain trans-Monoenoic Fatty Acids.

Sara Niemelä

co-founder Care Omnia, Head Content Creator

Author Image of Sara Niemelä

Nutrition is my passion. I've spent thousands upon thousands of hours reading, analyzing, categorizing and comparing research studies.

I’m a wife and a mother of three. I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, and spending time with my family.