Unsaturated Fatty Acid:

There are many different types of this dietary fat - some have been linked to positive health effects (see DHA; docosahexaenoic acid) and others have been linked to a risk of developing cardiovascular disease and AMD (see Trans Fats).

An unsaturated fatty acid is a fat that has one or more chemical "double bonds" between the long chain of carbons that form the fat "backbone." Hydrogen atoms that are part of double bonds may be in a "cis" (same side of the double bond) or "trans" (opposite sides of the double bond) position. Both DHA and trans fats are types of unsaturated fatty acids; however, the former is considered to be healthy and the latter is not. DHA is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that may help to prolong retention of vision in people with RP. Trans fats may increase the risk of developing AMD. Unsaturated fats (versus saturated fats that are normally hard at room temperature) melt at lower temperatures, and are thought to increase the fluid motion of cell membranes.