Postprandial evaluation of structured lipids with different solid contents: an acute in vivo assay

Postprandial hyperlipemia induces an acute inflammatory stimulus as well as increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The search for healthier ingredients led our research group to study the synthesis of anti-obesogenic structured lipids with different solid profiles for application in foods. Structured lipids (SL) are triacylglycerols that have undergone alterations in the composition and distribution of fatty acids through transesterification, resulting in lipid bases with nutritional and technological benefits. This study investigated the postprandial effect of ingestion of SLs with different solid contents in Swiss mice. The synthesis of SLs was performed using a mixture vegetable oils with different concentrations of hardfats as a source of behenic acid. An acute in vivo test was carried out with healthy Swiss mice, which received a high-fat meal containing three different compositions (SL1, SL2, SL3). The serum levels of triglycerides and glucose were measured. The SL3 that contained the highest amount of behenic acid showed a greater increase in triglyceride levels and remained stable up to four hours later (254 mg/dL). The SL2 containing a median amount of behenic acid had a lower impact than the normolipid group (154 mg/dL). An in vivo test was performed in 2019 using an SL containing behenic acid and the ability to induce postprandial inflammation in mice was evaluated. Triacylglycerols absorption showed a reduction and inflammatory mediators, such as IL-6 and C-Reactive Protein had a reduced capacity to induce postprandial inflammation, suggesting that a meal containing behenic acid can bring benefits to health. In conclusion, it was observed that SL2 with a medium content of behenic acid has an anti-inflammatory potential by suggesting a low absorption by acting as a lipase inhibitor in the body.