Metabolic health

Myristoleic acid (C14:1n-5)

C14:1

Included in Complete.

Research on this minor fat is still early.

Myristoleic acid is a monounsaturated fat, the same broad type as the main fat in olive oil, that makes up a very small share of the fatty acids in your blood. It comes partly from food and partly from your body's own fat-making.

It's mostly a research marker for now.

Your body makes some myristoleic acid from myristic acid, using the same enzyme that makes oleic acid. Small amounts are found in dairy and other animal fats, though data on food sources are limited.

Research on its role in health is limited and early. It's mainly useful as one part of the overall pattern in your fatty acid profile, and there's no established target.

Questions

What does an unusual myristoleic acid result mean?

Not much is known from this one number. A clinician will look at it alongside related fats, such as myristic and palmitoleic acids, and your other metabolic results before drawing any conclusions.

Why is it included in my results?

A fatty acid profile measures a full panel of fats in the same test. Minor fats like this one help complete the picture, even when they don't have a clinical use of their own.

Sources and references