INTESTINAL-ABSORPTION OF OCTANOIC, DECANOIC, AND LINOLEIC ACIDS - EFFECT OF TRIGLYCERIDE STRUCTURE

The influence of triglyceride structure on the intestinal absorption o f specific triglycerides was investigated. A bolus of either a structu red or a randomized oil was given to lymph-cannulated rats. The struct ured oil contained medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) in the sn-1 and sn- 3 position of the triglyceride, and linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) in the s n-2 position, whereas in the randomized oil the same fatty acids were distributed randomly between the three positions. The absorption of MC FA was highest from the randomized oil, where approximately 33% of the MCFA were located in the sn-2 position. The absorption of C18:2 n-6 w as highest from the structured oil, where C18:2 n-6 is located in the sn-2 position, indicating that the intestinal absorption is influenced by triglyceride structure, and that the absorption is enhanced for fa tty acids located in the sn-2 position. Prior to lymph collection, the rats were fed either a fish oil or a vegetable oil diet. The absorpti on of C18:2 n-6 was highest in the rats previously fed the fish oil di et. The incorporation of the highly unsaturated fatty acids from the f ish oil into the membrane phospholipids may thus influence the absorpt ion of fat.