From Natural Triacylglycerols to Novel Structured Lipids Containing n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Abstract Over the past two decades, the relevance of n -3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) for vascular health and neurodevelopment has been clearly demonstrated. The n -3 fats presenting in fish and plants are almost exclusively triacylglycerols (TAGs). The molecular structure of different TAGs modulates their metabolic fate in the organism and is enhanced for fatty acid (FA) located in the sn -2 position. In turn, structured lipids (SLs) are tailor-made TAGs defined as chemically or enzymatically modified to change FA composition and/or positional distribution in the glycerol backbone with specific physicochemical and nutritional attributes. This chapter reviews the current knowledge and experimental studies from natural TAG to novel SL containing n -3 LCPUFA, highlighting the therapeutic potential for dietary support in health and disease. Medium-long-medium (MLM) SL type containing medium-chain FAs in the sn -1 and sn -3 positions of glycerol and a long-chain FA in the sn -2 position are the best formula to potentiate FA protective outcomes.