Dietary palmitate cooperates with Src kinase to promote prostate tumor progression

[puxi]

doi.org/10.1002/pros.23796

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Palmitate (palmitic acid) is a 16-carbon fully hydrogenated fatty acid chain (16:0).

It "is the most common saturated fatty acid found in animals, plants and microorganisms" [1]

The name is due to its high presence in palm oil.

"It is naturally present in butter, cheese, milk, and meat, as well as cocoa butter, soybean oil, and sunflower oil." [1]

Some might think that a low-fat/high-carb diet would be protective, but:

"Excess carbohydrates in the body are converted to palmitic acid." [1]

Additionally:

"Palmitic acid is the first fatty acid produced during fatty acid synthesis and is the precursor to longer fatty acids."

& "In humans, one analysis found it to make up 21–30% (molar) of human depot fat" [1].

It would be unwise to cook with palm oil, but I don't lose sleep over levels found in my diet. Olive oil is 11% 16:0 [2]. I doubt that Dr. Myers worries about that.

-Patrick

[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmi...

[2] ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/...