title: Digestibility of cocoa butter and corn oil in human subjects: a preliminary study.
abstract: The comparative absorption of cocoa butter (25.5% C16:0, 34.4% C18:0, 34.4% C18:1, 3.4% C18:2) and corn oil (11.4% C16:0, 2.0% C18:0, 26.4% C18:1, 60.0% C18:2) was assessed in six healthy male subjects. During 3-d experimental diet periods, free-living subjects consumed either cocoa butter or corn oil as virtually the sole source of dietary fat, provided at 40% of the total energy intake in the form of specially formulated cookies. Fat absorption was determined by quantifying total fecal lipid excretion over the 3-d period. Total fecal lipid and fecal fatty acids were determined. The percentage of fat excreted was significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.001) when subjects consumed the cocoa butter (10.8 +/- 3.2%) vs the corn oil (3.5 +/- 1.0%) diet. These results indicate that the digestibility of cocoa butter is significantly less than corn oil and may explain, in part, previous reports of a neutral effect of dietary cocoa butter on plasma cholesterol concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Shively
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Apgar
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003314:Corn Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; C052387:cocoa butter; D003314:Corn Oil; D002784:Cholesterol