The derivation of plasma-free fatty acids from dietary neutral fat in man
Heimberg, M.; Dunn, G.D.; Wilcox, G.
Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 83(3): 393-402
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-2143 PMID: 4359898 Document Number: 76671
After an overnight fast, healthy men ate a single fatty meal, 0.5 g/lb bodyweight, of either safflower oil or coconut oil, the triglyceride fatty acids of which are, respectively, about 75% linoleate (18:2) and about 65% laurate (12:0) and myristate (14:0). Blood samples were taken before and for 12 h after the meal; plasma lipids were estimated and the percentages of 18:2, or 12:0 and 14:0 in free fatty acids and triglycerides were measured. After intake of safflower oil the percentage of 18:2 in free fatty acids increased in 8 h from 15.2 to 50.6 and in plasma triglycerides from 22.1 to 54.1. After coconut oil the percentage of 12:0 and 14:0 in free fatty acids increased in 8 h from 1.0 to 8.4 and in plasma triglycerides from 1.4 to 17.7. Similar observations were made for the triglycerides of very low density lipoprotein, indicating that even after a single fatty meal dietary fatty acids are incorporated into plasma free fatty acids and that dietary fatty acids are rapidly assimilated into plasma triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein.