Effects of acyl chain hydroxyl groups and increasing unsaturation on the autoxidation of cholesteryl esters in aqueous colloidal suspension.

Aeration in aqueous collodial suspension results in oxidation of the sterol moiety of cholesteryl linoleate, linolenate, arachidonate and O-tetrahydropyranylricinoleate. The extent of such oxidation is different for each compound, and the O-tetrahydropyranylricinoleate ester oxidizes relatively slowly. Cholesteryl 12-hydroxystearate and ricinoleate are resistant to this oxidation. Factors that may contribute to autoxidative susceptibility of cholesteryl esters are discussed briefly.