ABSTRACT
Fatty acids are known to increase cholesterol in the bloodstream, which can lead to blocking of the blood vessels in the heart, producing heart attacks. And lauric acid is also known to produce the largest increase in total cholesterol of all the fatty acids. Medics have classified cholesterol into two types: high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein, depending on the density of the lipoproteins. Lauric acid is also known to the pharmaceutical industry for its excellent antimicrobial properties, and the monoglyceride derivative of lauric acid, monolaurin, is known to have even more potent antimicrobial properties against lipid-coated RNA and DNA viruses, numerous pathogenic gram-positive bacteria, and various pathogenic protozoa. The lauric acid is extracted, then neutralized with NaOH to give sodium laurate, which is a soap. This can be further processed to give sodium lauryl sulfate, a detergent.
