Cis vs Trans Fatty Acids: Difference and Comparison

Food items will contain many types of acids. Some of them will be good, and some will damage our health. While eating the food, we should find which are good and which are not so that it will help us in the future.

Cis and Trans fatty acids are available in many food items, and they are not good for health. 

Key Takeaways

  1. CIS fatty acids have hydrogen atoms on the same side of the carbon chain, while Trans fatty acids have hydrogen atoms on opposite sides.
  2. CIS fatty acids occur naturally in many foods, while Trans fatty acids are found in processed foods.
  3. CIS fatty acids are considered healthier than Trans fatty acids, which have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Cis vs Trans Fatty Acids

The cis fatty acid has both hydrogen atoms located on the same side, while trans fatty acid has two hydrogen atoms on opposite sides. Fatty acids with Cis configuration are typical in natural foods, while trans fatty acids are formed during the process of hydro-generation of vegetable oils.

Cis vs Trans Fatty Acids

A cis fatty acid is an acid that is found in oils. It is not a good oil to include in our daily diet. They are at a very high risk of increasing heart disease.

It is used for some treatments for human beings, which are done using artificial methods. They are called because of those double-bond hydrogen atoms in them. One should avoid eating foods that are high in cis fatty acids.

Trans Fatty acids are found in carbon atoms with a double bond. They are very bad when it comes to our body health and maintaining our cholesterol levels. There are different types of cholesterols available in our bodies.

It will create huge damage to them. We should take proper care of our health by avoiding these food items and not eating or including them regularly in our diet. 

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Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonCis Fatty AcidsTrans Fatty Acids
AtomsHydrogen atomsCarbon atoms
Double bondYesYes
ExampleOlive oilMilk Products
ProcessNaturalArtificial methods
Chain typeBentStraight
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What are Cis Fatty Acids?

A cis fatty acid is a double bond that will be incorporated into hydrogen atoms. This topic comes in chemistry. It contains some natural oils and fatty acids in that bond. An example of cis fatty acid is Oleic Acid.

Cis fatty acids can be found in our daily products swell, which we use in cooking. Olive oil is the best example of cis fatty acid. Even cis fatty acids are found in some fruits and animals as well.

The reason it is called cis fatty acids is because of the unsaturated fat it contains in the hydrogen bond. They are used in some artificial methods as well. They are found in many natural foods we use in our daily activities.

But when it comes to health, they are considered as a good one. Because their main source is found in oils. Oil is not a good product to use in large quantities.

People who use cis fatty acids daily in their diet are in a higher chance of getting heart disease. Once tested, they found that there is no health benefit in cis fatty acids. There are almost 6 variants of cis fatty acids found.

They create fat in the human body once humans consume it daily. They are considered unique because of those two hydrogen atoms. They are even found in some meat as well. Humans should avoid including it in their daily diet.

cis fatty acids

What are Trans Fatty Acids?

In simple words, trans-fatty acids contain unsaturated fat. It is found in many food items. It can be found in milk products and non-vegetarian products. It can even be made artificially using some methods.

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It can be found in many day-to-day foods we eat. That is why we are at a higher risk of intaking trans fatty acids. They are considered because of the cholesterol levels in our bodies.

Our body contains good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. If we eat foods that are rich in trans fatty acids, then it will increase the bad cholesterol levels in our bodies.

Once the bad cholesterol levels in our body increase, the good cholesterol level in our body will automatically get reduced, which is not at all good for our body’s health.

Many doctors advise humans to intake foods with trans fatty acids in slow portions instead of taking them in a daily manner or regularly intaking it. It is a topic that comes under chemistry. It is called trans-fatty acids because of the double bond atoms that occur between carbon atoms.

There are even some foods and vegetables that are available in the market which do not contain any trans-fatty acid. We should find them and include them in our diet so that our health will be good.

trans fatty acids 1

Main Differences Between Cis and Trans Fatty Acids

  1. Cis fatty acids are formed using double bonds that are incorporated with hydrogen atoms. On the other hand, trans fatty acids are formed with double bonds that are incorporated with carbon atoms.
  2. Cis fatty acids are made in a natural process. On the other hand, trans fatty acids are made in the form of artificial processes.
  3. Cis fatty acids are found in the dairy products we use, and it is mostly found in oil. But trans products are found in milk.
  4. Cis fatty acids will affect our hearts and will create heart-related problems. Trans fatty acids will create cholesterol-related problems.
  5. The chain type that is used in cis fatty acids is bent in nature. But the chain type used in trans fatty acids is straight in nature.
Difference Between Cis and Trans Fatty Acids
References
  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002222752041404X
  2. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bi049917r 

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Piyush Yadav
Piyush Yadav

Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.

24 Comments

  1. The comparison table provides a clear understanding of the distinctions between cis and trans fatty acids.

  2. The information presented here is crucial for understanding the potential effects of different fatty acids on our health.

  3. Understanding the health implications of cis and trans fatty acids is essential for mindful food choices.

  4. The knowledge offered here is crucial for maintaining a health-conscious approach to food consumption.

  5. This article provides the necessary knowledge to discern between beneficial and harmful fatty acids in food.

    • Understanding the differences between cis and trans fatty acids is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

  6. The information provides valuable awareness about the health risks associated with certain fatty acids.

  7. This material contributes to better understanding the impact of various types of fatty acids on overall health.

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