These trans fats formed by hydrogenation are unnatural and as a result the human body is not well-equipped to deal with them. They also compete with essential fatty acids for absorption in the body. This blocks or delays the work of the essential fatty acids, creating deficiencies and imbalance throughout the metabolism, including fatty deposits in the arteries. LA is an 18 carbon chain fatty acid with two double bonds in the middle and is missing four hydrogen atoms, all on one side. The first double bond occurs after the 6th carbon atom.
LA is fairly unstable, reacting with light and oxygen.
LNA is missing 6 hydrogen atoms, again all from one side. LNA is 5 times more unstable than LA and quickly goes rancid if exposed to light or oxygen. It is so unstable, in fact, that when it is pressed from the seeds that possess it, the pressing must be done in the total absence of light and oxygen. It must be handled in this way right through to the packaging stage, then quickly refrigerated or frozen.