Low erucic acid canola oil does not induce heart triglyceride accumulationin neonatal pigs fed formula

Canola oil is not approved for use in infant formula largely because of con cerns over possible accumulation of triglyceride in heart as a result of th e small amounts of erucic acid (22:1n-9) in the oil. Therefore, the concent ration and composition of heart triglyceride were determined in piglets fed from birth for 10 (n = 4-6) or 18 (n = 6) d with formula containing about 50% energy fat as 100% canola oil (0.5% 22:1n-9) or 100% soybean oil, or 26 % canola oil or soy oil (blend) with palm, high-oleic sunflower and coconut oil, providing amounts of 16:0 and 18:1 closer to milk, or a mix of soy, h igh-oleic sunflower and flaxseed oils with C-16 and C-18 fatty acids simila r to canola oil but without 22:1. Biochemical analysis found no differences in heart triglyceride concentrations among the groups at 10 or 18 d. Asses sment of heart triglycerides using Oil Red O staining in select treatments confirmed no differences between 10-d-old piglets fed formula with 100% can ola oil (n = 4), 100% soy oil (n = 4), or the soy oil blend (n = 2). Levels of 22:1n-9 in heart triglyceride and phospholipid, however, were higher (P <0.01) in piglets fed 100% canola oil or the canola oil blend, with higher levels found in triglycerides compared with phospholipids. The modest accum ulation of 22:1n-9 associated with feeding canola oil was not associated wi th biochemical evidence of heart triglyceride accumulation at 10 and 18 d.