What is "phytanic acid"

n. (context organic compound English) The diterpenoid carboxylic acid ''(7R,11R)-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecanoic acid'' derived from chlorophyll via the related phytol

Phytanic acid (or 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl hexadecanoic acid) is a branched chain fatty acid that humans can obtain through the consumption of dairy products, ruminant animal fats, and certain fish. Western diets are estimated to provide 50–100 mg of phytanic acid per day. In a study conducted in Oxford, individuals who consumed meat had, on average, a 6.7-fold higher geometric mean plasma phytanic acid concentration than did vegans.