Dietary epoxy fatty acids are absorbed in healthy women.
BACKGROUND
Epoxy fats in the diet may adversely affect human health. There are no data on the absorption of these fats in humans.


METHODS
Triglycerides were synthesized containing two U-13C-labelled monoepoxy or diepoxy stearic acid molecules. Apparently healthy women consumed a standardized fatty meal (30 g fat) containing either 20 mg monoepoxy or 25 mg diepoxy fat (n = 6 and n = 7, respectively). Plasma lipid [U-13C]monoepoxy and diepoxy stearate concentrations were determined (0-24 h) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
Plasma triglycerides increased from 1.05 +/- 0.12 to 1.83 +/- 0.13 mmol L-1 (n = 6) and from 1.10 +/- 0.19 to 1.41 +/- 0.27 mmol L-1 (n = 7) (both P < 0.001). Plasma [U-13C]monoepoxy and diepoxy stearate levels increased to 0.18 +/- 0.07 micromol L-1 (n = 6) and to 0.08 +/- 0.03 micromol L-1 (n = 7), respectively. Monoepoxy triglyceride was better absorbed than diepoxy triglyceride: 17 +/- 4 vs. 8 +/- 1% of dose (determined from area under curve (plasma 13C) normalized to that of absorbed triglycerides (plasma 12C); P < 0.02 after log transformation). The absorption of monoepoxy- and diepoxy-labelled triglycerides was related to that of normal triglycerides (r = 0.80, P < 0.05 and r = 0.91, P < 0.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Monoepoxy fats are better absorbed than diepoxy fats in women (17 +/- 4 vs. 8 +/- 1% of dose, P = 0.02). This difference in absorption is important when considering the relative toxicity of epoxidized material in the food chain.
Wilson
R
R
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Fernie
C E
CE
Scrimgeour
C M
CM
Lyall
K
K
Smyth
L
L
Riemersma
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D013024:Soybean Oil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity
D004041:Dietary Fats; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D013024:Soybean Oil