Yes, palm oil may be used to make trans free products. Palm oil is approximately 50% saturated fat and 50% unsaturated fat. Due to such a unique characteristic palm oil may be separated under controlled thermal conditions into two components, a solid form (palm stearin) and a liquid form (palm olein). This is a type of fractionation (see 'What is fractionation') process and may occur in either a dry form or in the presence of a detergent or solvent. Palm stearin is then utilized to form more solid fats, such as margarines, without the need of hydrogenation, and thus being trans free.

8. What is fractionation?

Fractionation is a physical method using the crystallization properties of triglycerides to separate a mixture into a low melting liquid fraction and a high melting liquid fraction. There are three different types of fractionation: dry fractionation, detergent fractionation, and solvent fractionation. The two components resulting from the fractionation of palm oil is palm olein (liquid oil) and palm stearin (solid form).

9. Is palm oil that is used for frying trans-free?

Frying is usually performed at 180°C and thus a fat used for frying must be able to withstand high temperatures without adverse chemical changes. Oils high in unsaturated fatty acids as well as those containing large amounts of linoleic and linolenic acid are not suitable for frying due to their tendency to oxidize and break down or polymerize. In the USA, hydrogenated vegetable oils have been the oil of choice for frying. However, these fats contain trans-fatty acids that pose a health concern. Palm oil may be used for frying without the need of hydrogenation, and thus creating trans-free oil for frying. Palm oil is a good frying oil as it contains a moderate level of linoleic acid, negligible amounts of linolenic acid and natural antioxidants.

10. What are tocotrienols?

Vitamin E is a general term used with two subclasses: tocopherols and tocotrienols. Among vegetable oils, palm oil is one of the richest sources of tocotrienols. Tocotrienols are also found in rice bran oil, germ protein of barley, wheat, and rye, and grapeseed oil. Tocotrienols are potent antioxidants and have been found in some cell culture and animal studies to exhibit anti-cancer properties.

11. Isn't palm oil a tropical oil, which is high in saturated fats and should be avoided?

Tropical oils are generally thought of as having a high saturated fat content and should be avoided. Although, palm oil is grown in the tropical regions, compared to other tropical oils, its saturated fat content is approximately 30% less. Palm oil is often confused with the more highly saturated palm kernel oil and coconut oil. Studies have found that, unlike coconut oil, palm oil's impact on serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles compares favorably to corn oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, and olive oil. A 1995 study comparing the effect of palm olein and olive oil diets on twenty-one healthy, free-living normocholesterolemic subjects found no difference in total and LDL-cholesterol levels. In sum, palm oil appears to affect serum lipids more like a monounsaturated than a saturated oil.

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