ABSTRACT
Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are complex molecules pre-
sent in all oils and fats. They mainly serve as energy
stores, but they are also employed as carriers of fatty
acids within aqueous solutions such as blood. TAGs
are made up of three fatty acids, attached to a glyc-
erol backbone by an ester linkage. The wide variety of
fatty acids that may attach to the glycerol back-
bone generates the large diversity of TAGs that can
be found. The fat stores of both plant and animal
organisms are formed by mixtures of TAGs, the fatty
acids containing from four to 36 carbon atoms, with
up to six double bonds. Each of these fatty acids are
combined in triplets to form TAGs that share very
similar physicochemical properties, thus making their
separation and analysis difficult. The length of the hydrocarbon chains of the fatty
acids and the location of the double bonds within the
TAG molecule is ordered and determines the spatial
configuration, and therefore, the physical properties
of the molecule. TAGs that contain a higher proportion
of unsaturated fats and fewer carbon atoms are
more polarized. Regardless of the saturated fatty
acids (SFAs), most of the monounsaturated fatty
acids (MUFAs) have the double bond situated between
carbons C9 and C10 (9). With respect to the poly-
unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), the double bond
is often located between carbons C12 and C15. These
double bonds are not naturally conjugated, but rather
a methyl group normally remains between them.
