Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid found in palm oil, butter, cheese, and milk. It was discovered by French chemist Edmond Frémy in 1840 and was used to produce napalm during World War II. The intake of palmitic acid has been criticized by the World Health Organization for potentially causing an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but other studies have not shown the same results. Palmitic acid is also used as a form of treatment for schizophrenia.
Palmitic acid is a type of saturated fatty acid found in both animals and plants. As its name suggests, it is found in large amounts in both palm oil and palm kernel oil. This substance is also found in butter, cheese, and milk.
Also known as cetyl acid and hexadecanoic acid, palmitic acid occurs as a white, crystalline substance that cannot dissolve in water. This fatty acid melts at 145.5°F (63.1°C). It is the first fatty acid produced during the lipogenesis process. During this, glucose is converted to fatty acids, which then react with glycerol to produce triacylglycerols.
The word ‘palmitic’ is of French origin, derived from the word palmitique which refers to the pith of the palm tree. The pith is found in all vascular plants, and is located in the center of the stem or root. It is made up of a collection of spongy cells.
French chemist Edmond Frémy discovered palmitic acid in 1840, in saponified palm oil. His work with acid was mainly in the area of candle making. Frémy is best known in the world of chemistry for creating Frémy’s salt, which is a strong oxidizing agent that he discovered in 1845.
In World War II, this acid was used to produce napalm, which is a combination of aluminum naphthenate and aluminum palmitate. Napalm was used as a thickening agent and added to gasoline and other flammable liquids. This allowed them to burn for a longer period of time.
The intake of palmitic acid has been criticized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as potentially causing an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This was described in a 2003 WHO technical report on diet and chronic disease prevention. However, these findings remain controversial, as other studies have not shown the same results.
There are other health concerns with the use of palmitic acid as well. Several studies have documented higher levels of insulin resistance in rats fed diets rich in palmitic acid. Critics of these findings argue that this is simply part of an evolved process that attempts to balance blood glucose levels.
Another use for palmitic acid is as a form of treatment for schizophrenia. Marketed under the name INVEGA Sustenna, paliperidone palmitate is an antipsychotic medication. It is injected directly into the muscles of patients and works by using palmitate as the drug carrier. Due to the oily nature of palmitate, the drug takes a long time to dissipate in the system, prolonging its effects.
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