Lymphatic Absorption of Chemically Structured Triglycerides Containing Docosahexaenoic Acid.

The effects of triglyceride (TG) structure on the lymphatic absorption of dietary docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were studied in lymph-cannulated rats using chemically structured TGs containing DHA. When 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-docosahexaenoylglycerol (PDP) and 1,2(or 2,3)-dipalmitoyl-3(or 1)-docosahexaenoylglycerol (PPD) were administered to rats, DHA located at the 2-position in PDP was absorbed more efficiently in lymph than that at the 1(or 3)-position in PPD. Total fatty acid composition of lymph TG in rats given PDP and PPD was nearly similar, but the contents of DHA located at the 2-position of lymph TG were much higher in the PDP group than in the PPD group. HPLC analysis showed that the lymphatic TG composition in the PDP group was different from that in the PDD group. These results showed that the TG structure could influence the lymphatic absorption of dietary DHA.