Metabolic health

Stearic acid (C18:0)

Octadecanoic acid

Included in Complete.

Your body reshapes this saturated fat into others.

Stearic acid is a saturated fat (the kind that's firm at room temperature) with 18 carbons in its chain. It comes from meat, dairy fat, and cocoa butter, and your body also makes it. Your result shows its share of all the fatty acids measured.

It's a starting point for other fats.

An enzyme called stearoyl-CoA desaturase turns stearic acid into oleic acid, the main monounsaturated fat in your body. Stearic acid can also be lengthened into very long-chain saturated fats, such as arachidic and behenic acids.

Because it's constantly made and converted, blood stearic acid is a weak guide to how much you eat. In a large European study, its link with type 2 diabetes was weaker than palmitic acid's.

Questions

How does stearic acid relate to the SCD-18 index?

The SCD-18 index is calculated from your stearic and oleic acid results to estimate how actively your body converts one into the other. Stearic acid is hard to interpret on its own, so it's best read with that index and your other saturated fats.

Can I change my level by eating differently?

There isn't a simple food fix. Blood stearic acid shifts with overall eating patterns and metabolism more than with any single food. The nurse practitioner who reviews your results can help you decide whether anything in your profile needs attention.

Sources and references