
%0 Journal Article
%A Downing, DT 
%T The Fatty Acid Composition of <I>Vernix caseosa</I>
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1963/08/01
%V 16
%N 4
%P 679-682
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9630679
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9630679 
%X The fatty acids obtained on hydrolysis of sebum from newly-born babies contained approximately equal amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and 10% of &#945;-hydroxyacids. Gas chromatographic examination showed that the saturated fatty acids (C12 to C30) contained 78% branched-chain and 22% normal compounds, while the unsaturated acids (C12 to C32) contained 15% branched and 85% normal compounds. The a-hydroxyacids (C10 to C26) contained 79% branched-chain and 21% normal components and had little if any unsaturation. The high proportion of branched-chain acids suggests that these are not likely to be exogenous. 
