Differential scanning calorimetry was used to follow the oxidation course of the saturated fatty acids lauric, myristic, palmitic, and stearic and their ethyl esters and, additionally, glycerol tripalmitate and tristearate. Assessment of the oxidative stability of these fat components was performed at 90-300 degrees C without any solvents and in the absence of free-radical initiators. The calculated overall activation energies were in the range 106.0-123.3 kJ/mol. Obtained overall rates constants of autoxidation (k) were not dependent on the length of the carbon chain, and k＇s for acids were greater than those for esters and triglycerides. The applicability of thermoanalytical methods to determine the kinetic parameters of lipid oxidation was verified by comparison with values of activation energies and rate constants of oxidation determined by GC.