DIETARY TRIACYLGLYCEROLS WITH PALMITIC ACID (16 0) IN THE 2-POSITION INCREASE 16/0 IN THE 2-POSITION OF PLASMA AND CHYLOMICRON TRIACYLGLYCEROLS, BUT REDUCE PHOSPHOLIPID ARACHIDONIC AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACIDS, AND ALTER CHOLESTERYL ESTER METABOLISM IN FORMULA-FED PIGLETS/

Milk triacylglycerols have an unusual fatty acid distribution, with pa lmitic acid (16:0) esterified predominately at the center (sn-2) posit ion. Other dietary triacylglycerols contain 16:0 predominantly at the sn-1,3 positions. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of fo rmula triacylglycerol fatty acid distribution on the composition and d istribution of plasma lipoprotein fatty acids in piglets fed formula c ontaining synthesized triacylglycerols or palm olein oil with about 32 or 4.2% 16:0, respectively, in fatty acids at the sn-2 position, with comparison to piglets fed sow's milk. Feeding formula with 16:0 at th e triglyceride sn-2 position or sow's milk resulted in higher chylomic ron triacylglycerol sn-2 16:0 than when palm olein was fed. This sugge sts that dietary triacylglycerol sn-2 position fatty acids are conserv ed during digestion, absorption and reassembly to chylomicron triacylg lycerols. The increased chylomicron triacylylycerol sn-2 position 16:0 in piglets fed synthesized triacylglycerols was accompanied by lower chylomicron triacylglycerol arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid than in piglets fed formula with palm olein, suggesting an interaction betw een dietary triacylglycerol saturated fatty acid distribution and (n-6 ) and (n-3) fatty acid transport.