A2 Ghee · Nutrition
A2 Ghee Fatty Acids: What’s Really in the Jar (With Lab Data)
A2 buffalo ghee is about 99.8% fat. In our NABL lab report, 100 g contains 71.4 g saturated fat, 26.5 g monounsaturated fat (MUFA), 1.9 g polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) and under 0.1 g trans fat, with 224 mg cholesterol. Milk fat also carries short-chain fatty acids such as butyric acid and small amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Whether ghee is A2 or not does not change this fat profile; the animal’s breed and feed do.
Quick take
- Per teaspoon (5 g): ~45 kcal, 3.6 g saturated, 1.3 g MUFA, 0.1 g PUFA.
- Milk fat contains around 400 different fatty acids; short-chain ones make up about 11%.
- Butyrate in ghee is real, but most butyrate your colon uses is made there from fibre.
- “A2” is about protein; it does not change the fat profile.
Most articles about A2 ghee jump straight to benefits. This one starts with the measured numbers, then explains what each type of fat is and what the research does and does not support.
Our own pure A2 buffalo ghee is hand-churned the bilona way and packed in glass.
The fat profile, measured
| Fat type | Per 100 g | Per teaspoon (~5 g) | Share of fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturated | 71.4 g | ~3.6 g | ~72% |
| Monounsaturated (MUFA) | 26.5 g | ~1.3 g | ~27% |
| Polyunsaturated (PUFA) | 1.9 g | ~0.1 g | ~2% |
| Trans | < 0.1 g | < 0.005 g | — |
| Cholesterol | 224 mg | ~11 mg | — |
From the A2 Farmer reference report (NABL-accredited Equinox Labs). Per-teaspoon values are calculated from the per-100 g results.
These proportions sit close to published values for bovine milk fat: roughly 70% saturated, 25% monounsaturated and a few percent polyunsaturated (Månsson, 2008). Milk fat is one of the most complex fats in food, with around 400 different fatty acids identified.
Saturated fat: the biggest share
About three-quarters of ghee is saturated fat. Milk fat’s saturated fats are a mix of chain lengths, from short (butyric, 4 carbons) to long (palmitic and stearic). This is why ghee stays solid or grainy at room temperature and is stable at high heat (ghee smoke point). Because saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol in many people, dietary guidelines treat ghee as a fat to use in measured amounts, not freely: see how much ghee per day.
MUFA: the omega-9 share
Our ghee has 26.5 g MUFA per 100 g, mostly oleic acid, the same omega-9 fat that dominates olive oil. It is a meaningful share, but ghee is still mainly a saturated fat, so it does not replace oils rich in unsaturated fats. Comparisons: ghee vs olive oil and ghee vs oil.
Butyrate: true, with a caveat
Short-chain fatty acids make up about 11% of milk fat, and almost half of that is butyric acid (Månsson, 2008). Butyrate is the main fuel for the cells lining the colon (Hamer et al., 2008). That is the basis of the popular claim that “ghee feeds your gut”.
The caveat: most of the butyrate your colon uses is made in the colon by bacteria fermenting dietary fibre. Butyrate you eat is largely absorbed earlier in the gut. So ghee is a source of butyrate, but it is not a substitute for fibre from dal, vegetables, whole grains and fruit. Ghee with fibre-rich food, such as khichdi, is the sensible pairing.
CLA and fat-soluble vitamins
Ruminant milk fat naturally contains small amounts of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). Feed affects the level: grass-fed animals tend to produce milk fat with more CLA than animals fed mostly concentrates (grass-fed ghee). Ghee also carries fat-soluble vitamins from milk fat; buffalo convert carotene into vitamin A, which is part of why buffalo ghee is white. Our report does not quantify CLA or vitamins, so we do not print numbers for them.
Does “A2” change any of this?
No. A2 and A1 are types of beta-casein, a milk protein. Ghee keeps almost none of it (under 0.01 g protein per 100 g in our test), and the fat profile depends on species, breed and feed, not on the casein gene. Choose A2 ghee for the milk it comes from and the way it is made; read the fat panel to know what you are eating. Background: what A2 ghee is and A2 vs A1 ghee.
Sources & references
- Lindmark Månsson H. Fatty acids in bovine milk fat. Food & Nutrition Research, 2008; 52
- Hamer HM et al. Review article: the role of butyrate on colonic function. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2008; 27(2)
- World Health Organization — Trans fat fact sheet
- FSSAI — Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011
Frequently asked questions
What fats are in A2 ghee?
In A2 Farmer's lab report, 100 g of ghee contains 71.4 g saturated fat, 26.5 g monounsaturated fat, 1.9 g polyunsaturated fat and under 0.1 g trans fat, with 224 mg cholesterol.
Does A2 ghee have omega-3?
Only a little. Polyunsaturated fat, which includes omega-3 and omega-6, is 1.9 g per 100 g in our test. Ghee is not a significant omega-3 source.
Is the butyrate in ghee good for the gut?
Butyrate is the main fuel for colon cells, but most of it is made in the colon from fibre. Ghee adds some butyrate; it does not replace fibre.
Is A2 ghee lower in saturated fat than regular ghee?
No. A2 refers to milk protein, not fat. Fat composition depends on the animal and its feed, so A2 and regular ghee have similar saturated fat.
How many calories are in a teaspoon of A2 ghee?
About 45 kcal per 5 g teaspoon, based on 898 kcal per 100 g in our lab report.
Know exactly what you're eating
A2 Farmer Buffalo Bilona Ghee — A2A2 confirmed by PCR, 99.76% milk fat, hand-churned and glass-packed. From ₹799.
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