Docosanoic Acid Unit Converter

Docosanoic acid, commonly known as behenic acid, is a very long-chain saturated fatty acid with 22 carbon atoms and no double bonds (C22:0). It is measured in blood plasma as part of a very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) profile.

In clinical testing, docosanoic acid serves primarily as a reference value for two key diagnostic ratios: C24:0/C22:0 and C26:0/C22:0. These ratios help screen for disorders of peroxisomal beta-oxidation, the metabolic pathway that breaks down very long-chain fatty acids.

Fatty acids with 22 or more carbons are degraded exclusively by peroxisomes. When peroxisomal function is impaired, longer-chain fatty acids (C24:0 and C26:0) accumulate while C22:0 remains relatively stable, making it a useful baseline for comparison.

Obtained from dietary sources including peanuts, peanut oil, moringa (ben) oil, and canola oil. The body also synthesizes it by elongating shorter-chain saturated fatty acids via the ELOVL1 elongase enzyme, primarily in the liver.