FORMULA CONTAINING RANDOMIZED FATS WITH PALMITIC ACID (16 0) IN THE 2-POSITION INCREASES 16/0 IN THE 2-POSITION OF PLASMA AND CHYLOMICRON TRIGLYCERIDES IN FORMULA-FED PIGLETS TO LEVELS APPROACHING THOSE OF PIGLETS FED SOWS MILK/

Human and pig milk fat contains a high proportion of palmitic acid (16 :0) which is largely esterified to the 2-position of the triglycerides . in contrast, the 16:0 in most nonmilk fats and in infant formulas is mainly esterified at the triglyceride 1,3 positions. Gastric and panc reatic lipases hydrolyze fatty acids from the dietary triglyceride 1- and 3-positions to produce unesterified fatty acids and 2-monoglycerid es which are absorbed and re-esterified. In this study, we determined whether formula with chemically randomized oils, which equally distrib utes 16:0 among all the positions of triglycerides, influences growth or the distribution of fatty acids in plasma and liver lipid of formul a-fed piglets compared with piglets fed formula with native oils or so w's milk. After feeding from birth to 18 d, piglets fed formula with p alm olein randomized with canola oil (co-randomized) had higher weight gain per liter of formula intake and higher 16:0 in the chylomicron t riglyceride 2-position than piglets fed formula with randomized or nat ive palm olein oil blended with canola oil. The fatty acid distributio n of formula triglycerides is an important determinant of pathways of 16:0 absorption, and consequently of plasma lipid fatty acids in formu la-fed piglets.