How does saturated fat differ from trans fat?

[Riprorin]

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Fausto]

Structurally, or with regard to its effects on the body?

Good info on the various types of fat here.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

i believe it has hydrogen moelcules 'saturated' within it.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Structurally, or with regard to its effects on the body?

Good info on the various types of fat here.

Good link. Exactly what i was taught in my nutrition class.

 

[glen]

They are both saturated fats, but I think the difference is that trans are hydrogenated and saturated occure that way.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: glen
They are both saturated fats, but I think the difference is that trans are hydrogenated and saturated occure that way.

Trans can occur naturally, but you generally encounter it in the man-made form. They actually bubble H2 through veg oil to create "partially hydrogenated" oil which is often used for frying and such. The difference is just what the name implies: saturated has as many H groups on it as are possible while the trans are literally partially hydrogenated.

From the link above:

While trans fatty acids may be classified as hydrogenated polyunsaturated fats due to their chemical structure, they generally are like saturated fats in terms of their effects on cholesterol.

Without a doubt, trans fat is the worse kind of fat. During the hydrogenation process, the chemical structure of the natural fatty acid is changed from their original cis- configuration to unnatural trans- configuration. Trans-isomerization alters the 3 dimensional configuration of dietary fatty acid, causing damage to the cell membranes and altering the function of phospholipid-dependent enzymes contained in these membranes. This altered fluidity increase cell membrane permeability. The active transport enzymes for sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are impaired. Such cell membrane is also subject to free radical attack and damage. A high intake of trans fat has therefore been linked to a variety of free radical and degenerative conditions such as cancer, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease.