Grundy S M
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 Dec;60(6 Suppl):986S-990S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/60.6.986S.
Stearic acid is a long-chain saturated fatty acid. However, in contrast with other saturated fatty acids, stearic acid apparently does not raise serum cholesterol concentrations. Studies carried out three decades ago provided strong suggestive evidence that this was the case. More recent investigations that specifically compared stearic acid with other fatty acids in human studies have confirmed that stearic acid is not hypercholesterolemic. Stearic acid was shown not to raise low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol relative to oleic acid, which is known to be neutral in its effects on cholesterol concentrations. In contrast, palmitic acid, another long-chain saturated fatty acid, definitely raises cholesterol concentrations. For this reason, fats rich in stearic acid might be used in place of those high in palmitic acid in cholesterol-lowering diets.
硬脂酸是一种长链饱和脂肪酸。然而，与其他饱和脂肪酸不同的是，硬脂酸显然不会提高血清胆固醇浓度。三十年前进行的研究提供了有力的暗示性证据表明情况确实如此。最近在人体研究中专门将硬脂酸与其他脂肪酸进行比较的调查证实，硬脂酸不会导致高胆固醇血症。相对于油酸而言，硬脂酸不会提高低密度脂蛋白胆固醇，而油酸对胆固醇浓度的影响是中性的。相比之下，另一种长链饱和脂肪酸棕榈酸则肯定会提高胆固醇浓度。因此，在降低胆固醇的饮食中，可以使用富含硬脂酸的脂肪来替代富含棕榈酸的脂肪。
