Stearic Acid
The saturated fat with a neutral cholesterol effect.
What is Stearic Acid?
Stearic acid is an eighteen-carbon saturated fatty acid found in cocoa butter, beef fat and shea butter. Unusually for a saturated fat, it appears to have little effect on LDL cholesterol — partly because the body converts much of it into the monounsaturated oleic acid.
Health benefits of Stearic Acid
- Appears largely neutral toward LDL cholesterol
- Partly converted by the body to heart-friendly oleic acid
- Gives chocolate and other foods their firm texture
Top food sources of Stearic Acid
See full rankingCocoa butter and chocolate, beef and lamb fat, butter and shea butter. Values shown per 100 g.
Oil, industrial, soy, fully hydrogenated
83,094 mg
Oil, industrial, cottonseed, fully hydrogenated
69,596 mg
Oil, sheanut
38,800 mg
Oil, cocoa butter
33,200 mg
Oil, cupu assu
32,700 mg
Shortening, confectionery, fractionated palm
26,200 mg
Beef, variety meats and by-products, suet, raw
24,680 mg
Shortening confectionery, coconut (hydrogenated) and or palm kernel (hydrogenated)
21,900 mg
Fish oil, menhaden, fully hydrogenated
21,133 mg
Oil, industrial, palm kernel (hydrogenated), confection fat, uses similar to 95 degree hard butter
20,585 mg
Fat, mutton tallow
19,500 mg
Fat, beef tallow
18,900 mg
How much Stearic Acid do you need?
There is no Daily Value. It counts toward saturated fat, though its effect on cholesterol seems milder than other saturated fats.
Stearic Acid deficiency
There is no dietary requirement for stearic acid.
Nutrition data per 100 g from the USDA & FooDB databases. Daily Values follow the FDA 2016+ labeling standard for a 2,000-calorie diet. This guide is for general information and is not medical advice.
Related nutrients
Frequently asked questions
What does Stearic Acid do?
Stearic acid is an eighteen-carbon saturated fatty acid found in cocoa butter, beef fat and shea butter. Unusually for a saturated fat, it appears to have little effect on LDL cholesterol — partly because the body converts much of it into the monounsaturated oleic acid.
How much Stearic Acid do I need per day?
There is no Daily Value. It counts toward saturated fat, though its effect on cholesterol seems milder than other saturated fats.
Which foods are highest in Stearic Acid?
Per 100 g, some of the richest sources are Oil, industrial, soy, fully hydrogenated, Oil, industrial, cottonseed, fully hydrogenated, Oil, sheanut, Oil, cocoa butter, Oil, cupu assu.
What happens if I don't get enough Stearic Acid?
There is no dietary requirement for stearic acid.