Aceites y Heridas

Published in Dermatology

Journal Scan / Research · September 12, 2019

The Fatty Acid Composition of Vegetable Oils and Their Potential Use in Wound Care

Advances in skin & wound care

Advances in skin & wound care

The Fatty Acid Composition of Vegetable Oils and Their Potential Use in Wound Care

Adv Skin Wound Care 2019 Aug 01;32(8)1-8, AQ Alves, VA da Silva, AJS Góes, MS Silva, GG de Oliveira, IVGA Bastos, AG de Castro Neto, AJ Alves 

Abstract 

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the similarities among fatty acid compositions of vegetable oils sold in the Brazilian market and those present in a reference health product used to treat wounds.

METHODS

The relative amounts of fatty acids in 21 types of vegetable oils, purchased in the Brazilian market, were assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection.

MAIN RESULTS

The studied oils had similar fatty acid compositions to the reference product (caprylic acid, 18.8%; capric acid, 17.4%; oleic acid, 27.5%; and linoleic acid, 28.1%). The presence of caprylic acid (10.45% ± 0.07%), capric acid (5.8% ± 0.75%), lauric acid (45.63% ± 0.93%), and myristic acid (16.33% ± 2.23%) were detected in all the vegetable oils tested. Oleic acid (52.94% ± 12.54%) was present in andiroba, avocado, canola, copaiba, olive, palm, pequi, and pracaxi oils and featured prominently in olive oil (75.8%). Linoleic acid (57.09% ± 8.47%) was present in corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, passion fruit, and sunflower oils and in mixed oils (olive with soybean and sunflower with corn and canola).

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the vegetable oils tested are products of plants from tropical climates, where they are abundant and easy to cultivate. It is possible that a balanced composition of fatty acids obtained from natural sources could be an effective alternative treatment for wounds.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

• The current trend towards the use of natural and raw materials as alternatives to conventional medications continues to be popular. In this study, the fatty acid composition of a commercially available lotion for the treatment of wounds (reference product) was compared with that of 21 vegetable oils available for purchase in Brazil. The main fatty acid components of the reference product were capric acid, caprylic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid. The two acids found in the highest proportion, capric and caprylic acids, were also the most abundant in the vegetable oils tested.

• Many of these vegetable oils have been used medicinally for many years, and this study suggests that they may be a satisfactory alternative due to their similar fatty acid composition for wound treatment among patients who desire more natural products.

– Caitlyn Reed, MD

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Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock
Skin Care Physicians of Costa Rica

Clinica Victoria en San Pedro: 4000-1054
Momentum Escazu: 2101-9574

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