Stearic acid is well absorbed from short- and long-acyl-chain triacylglycerol in an acute test meal.
OBJECTIVE
Absorption of stearic acid from natural oils has been shown to be efficient, but it is claimed to be lower from short- and long-acyl-chain triacylyglycerol molecules (Salatrim). The aim was to measure the apparent absorption of stearic acid from Salatrim fat in an acute test meal.


METHODS
Double-blind crossover study.


METHODS
Ten healthy male volunteers, of whom eight completed the study.


METHODS
The subjects were studied on two occasions after consumption of a single high-fat meal either without (control) or with 30 g of Salatrim. Fecal samples were collected for 96 h after the meal and the fat was extracted for analysis of the content and composition of free and esterified long-chain fatty acids.


RESULTS
Baseline fecal fat was 5.6+/-2.6 g/day increasing to 10.4+/-4.9 g/day after addition of Salatrim (P=0.001). During the whole collection period, the baseline fecal free and esterified fatty acids were 2.6+/-2.3 and 0.8+/-0.7 g, respectively. After Salatrim meal the corresponding figures increased to 5.9+/-3.6 g (P=0.001) and 1.5 (+/-1.2) g (P=0.003), respectively. The total fecal stearic acid after control meal was 0.97+/-0.9 g. Consumption of Salatrim with 16.7+/-0.5 g of stearic acid increased the content to 3.12+/-1.6 g (P<0.001), with apparent absorption of 87%.


CONCLUSIONS
The apparent absorption of stearic acid does not differ from its absorption from natural fats. The status of Salatrim as a low-energy fat substitute needs to be re-evaluated.


BACKGROUND
University of Turku.
Tuomasjukka
S
S
Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. saska.tuomasjukka@utu.fi
Viitanen
M
M
Kallio
H
H
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D013229:Stearic Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; C031183:stearic acid; C117372:salatrim