"Structured lipid containing behenic acid in obesity and inflammation".

Abstract

Structured lipids are triacylglycerols restructured in relation to their composition or distribution of fatty acids in the glycerol backbone in order to modify physicochemical or nutritional properties. Structured lipids containing behenic acid, a long chain saturated fatty acid, are partially absorbed and can act as inhibitors of pancreatic lipase in the intestine, reducing lipid absorption and caloric intake, resulting in a great potential in the dietary management of obese patients. In this project, a structured lipid obtained by enzymatic interesterification from the soya / olive / fully hydrogenated crambe oil blend will be evaluated about its ability to control postprandial "inflammation" when administered acutely and to cause changes in the gastrointestinal tract of mice fed with a normal and high-fat diet during long term. It will also be evaluated its anti-obesity effect compared to the orlistat drug using mice with obesity induced by standard high-fat diet. It is also intended to evaluate if the consumption of this structured lipid containing behenic acid is able to alter the inflammatory response, which is dependent on the formation of lipid mediators, such as prostaglandins D2 and leukotriene B4, using a model of colitis in mice. In addition to containing behenic acid distributed randomly in the glycerol backbone, this structured lipid presents mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acid) that can play additional effects in the synthesis of inflammatory lipid mediators. (AU)