Conversion of saturated fats to polyunsaturated fats

[lexis]

Andrew Kim has stated that,under certain some circumstances,the saturated fats we eat can get converted into polyunsaturated fats.How does the mechanism work?

 

[Mittir]

Saturated fat and monounsaturated fat are not considered "Essential Fatty Acids".
Body makes both saturated and monounsaturated fat without ingesting it.
There are enzymes that makes MUFA from saturated fats.
Here is a quote from wikipedia page

Δ9desaturase, also known as stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, is used to synthesize oleic acid, a monounsaturated, ubiquitous component of all cells in the human body. Δ9desaturase produces oleic acid by desaturating stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid either synthesized in the body from palmitic acid or ingested directly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_acid_desaturase

RP has written a lot about Mead Acid, which is a Polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Body makes mead acid from monounsaturated oleic acid when we are
"essential fatty acid deficient". Here is a quote from RP

When dietary PUFA are not available, the body produces a small amount of unsaturated fatty acid (Mead acids), but these do not activate cell systems in the same way that plant-derived PUFAs do, and they are the precursors for an entirely different group of prostaglandins.

http://raypeat.com/articles/articles/alzheimers2.shtml