Question

one long - chain fatty acid that is present in food and in the body is stearic acid. stearic acid is an 18 - carbon saturated fatty acid. beta - oxidation of stearic acid results in the formation of ______ molecules of acetyl coa that can be oxidized in the citric acid cycle

Explanation:

Beta - oxidation of a fatty acid breaks it down into acetyl - CoA. For an \(n\) - carbon saturated fatty acid, the number of acetyl - CoA molecules formed is \(\frac{n}{2}\). Stearic acid has 18 carbons. So, \(\frac{18}{2}=9\).

Answer:

9