Safflower oil is known to reduce blood cholesterol due to the presence of which of the following?

✅Explanation: Linoleic acid is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in safflower oil. It is known to help reduce blood cholesterol levels by promoting the reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often referred to as "bad" cholesterol, and by increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol.

📌Other Options Explanations:
-(b) Oleic acid: Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil and some other oils.
-(c) Stearic acid: Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid found in animal fats and some plant fats.
-(d) Palmitic acid: Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid found in palm oil and animal fats, and while it has some health implication.

🔑Key Points:
-Linoleic acid (LA) is an omega-6 fatty acid which is considered an essential fatty acid because it cannot be synthesized by humans. 
-In all omega-6 (ω6 or n-6) fatty acids, the first double bond is located between the sixth and seventh carbon atom from the methyl end of the fatty acid.
-Linoleic acid is a colorless to straw colored liquid.
-It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid essential to human diet.
-After consumption and absorption by enterocytes lining the small intestines, linoleic acid is packaged into chylomicrons as phospholipids, triacylglycerols, or cholesterol esters and enters the general circulation (subclavian vein) via the thoracic duct.
-Linoleic acid is delivered to hepatic and extrahepatic tissues as chylomicrons are delipidated en route to and cleared by the liver during its transition to much smaller remnant particles.
-After cellular uptake, the fate of linoleic acid is determined by the needs of the tissue, i.e., incorporation into membrane phospholipids, desaturation and elongation, etc.
-The major dietary sources of linoleic acid are vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, meats, and eggs.