Dietary supplementation with a mixture of structured triacylglycerols 1,2,3-tri-gamma-linolenyglycerol and 1,2-di-gamma-linolenyl-3-mono-oleoylglycerol enhances kidney phospholipid DGLA and prostaglandin E-1

Investigations involving dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) have lin ked arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) and its metabolites to the modulation of renal inflammatory processes. To delineate whether the structural position ing of PUFAs on the glycerol backbone of the triacylglycerol can influence fatty acid profiles and eicosanoid generation in the kidney, mixtures of st ructured triacylglycerols containing 49 4 % 1,2,3-tri-gamma-linolenylglycer ol (TGLA), containing 46.5 % 1,2-di-gamma-linolenyl-3-mono-oleoylglycerol ( DGMO); and corn oil control (containing trilinoylglycerol) were respectivel y supplemented in the diet of normal guinea pigs for four weeks After eutha nasia, the kidneys were removed for fatty acid and eicosanoid analyses Our data revealed: (i) elevated levels of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA; 20 :3n-6) in total phospholipids, 15.0 % in the TGLA and 10.3 % in the DGMO gr oups when compared to 6 % in the corn oil control; these elevations paralle l decrease of AA in these two dietary groups. 16 % (TGLA) and 19 % (DGMO) v ersus 26 % (control); Oil increased generation of prostaglandin El (PGE(1)) : 77.7 % (TGLA) and 59.4 % (DGMO) versus 57.5 % (control), and (iii) enhanc ed tissue generation of 15-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (15-HETrE): 21.8 % (T GLA) and 32.2 % (DGMO) when compared to 20.2 % (control) Taken together, th is study indicates that the increased number of a particular fatty acid on the glycerol backbone of an ingested triacylglycerol may affect the nature of the PUFAs incorporated into the phospholipids and the generation of kidn ey eicosanoids Thus, dietary supplementation with structured triacylglycero ls may offer a suitable approach to modulating tissue PUFAs and anti-inflam matory eicosanoids. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.