Taking a closer look at double bonds in Figure 5.4, we see that there can be some variation in the position of the hydrogen atoms. If the hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms of a double bond are positioned on the same side of the double bond, it is a cis bond that is the predominant way they are found in nature. If the hydrogen atoms bonded to the carbon atoms are on opposite sides of the double bond, it is referred to as a trans fatty acid.
Interest has been growing regarding the presence of trans fatty acids in our diet and their potential impact upon health. Although cis versus trans may seem like a very minor point in regard to fatty acid design, these contrasting forms can impart different properties to a fatty acid. Cis double bonds cause a kinking or bending of the fatty acid, while trans double bonds do not. This makes unsaturated fatty acids with trans double bonds similar to saturated fatty acids in that they do not bend or kink. We will discuss trans fatty acids in more detail below as well as in Chapter 13.
Trans fats are like saturated fats in that they don’t bend, and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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