This high purity fatty acid methyl ester is ideal as a standard and for biological studies. Decanoic acid is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid that is found in many organisms and has widespread commercial uses, such as flavorings, soaps, cosmetics, supplements, and dietetics. Decanoic acid has been found to be a direct ligand of peroxisome proliferator– activated receptor (PPAR) -gamma (a nuclear receptor that plays key roles in glucose and lipid metabolism) and partially activates the receptor without inducing adipogenesis. This fatty acid/receptor interaction can be used to design better and safer PPAR-gamma-based drugs.1 Decanoic acid has been found to have excellent antibacterial and antifungal activities and unique solvency properties.2 It has found application in extracting herbicides from water and (as mono and diglycerides) as a cholesterol dissolving agent in patients having cholesterol gallstones. Decanoic acid has been used as an oral absorption enhancer of insulin.3 As a food supplement it shows evidence of improving blood lipids, enhancing antioxidant protection and reducing lipid peroxidation.4 X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is an inherited disorder of peroxisomal metabolism and is characterized by deficient -oxidation of saturated very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) resulting in an accumulation of VLCFA and a subsequent decrease in shorter fatty acids such as decanoic acid. Sphingolipids are normally acylated with long-chain fatty acids and are critical in many biological functions. When acylated with shorter fatty acids these sphingolipids can more easily cross the cell membrane barrier. Decanoic acid is a saturated fatty acid and saturated fatty acids have been found to cause moderate risk of coronary heart disease as compared with polyunsaturated fatty acids and they significantly lower the total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio as compared with carbohydrates.5
