Abstract
Meadowfoam oil is unusual because over 95% of the fatty acids are 20- and 22-carbon aliphatic acids withcis double bonds located principally at the 5- and/or 13-position. Since little information is available on the metabolism of the 5c−20∶1 and 5c,13c−22∶2 fatty acids, an exploratory study in mice was conducted to investigate the metabolism of purified samples of the free fatty acids isolated from meadowfoam oil, and to determine the effect of meadowfoam oil on weight gain and tissue lipid composition. Mice fed diets containing 5% by wt of the purified 5c−20∶1 or 5c,13c−22∶2 for 6 days exhibited no apparent physiological problems. Total liver lipids from mice fed the purified fatty acid diets contained mean values of 2.0% 5c−20∶1 and 2.1% 5c,13c−22∶2; total heart lipids contained 1.7% 5c−20∶1 and 10.7% 5c,13c−22∶2. Liver total phospholipids from mice fed a 5% meadowfoam oil diet for 19 wk contained 1.4% 5c−20∶1 and 1.9% 5c,13c−22∶2. There was no evidence of desaturation, elongation or retroconversion. Weight gain for mice fed the meadowfoam oil diet for 19 wk was similar to mice fed corn oil, and was higher than for mice fed hydrogenated cottonseed oil. Considering the high 5c−20∶1 and 5c,13c−22∶2 content of the diets, the percentages of these fatty acids in mouse tissue lipids from both the short- and long-term studies were low. Weight gain was surprisingly good since the meadowfoam oil diet was essential fatty acid-deficient. Results of this initial investigation suggest that the 5c−20∶1 and 5c,13c−22∶2 fatty acids were utilized primarily for energy. In the short-term study, these fatty acids did not produce toxic effects or cause metabolic problems.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- CO:
-
corn oil
- EFA:
-
essential fatty acid
- FAME:
-
fatty acid methyl ester
- FAS:
-
fatty acid synthetase
- GC:
-
gas chromatography
- HCTO:
-
hydrogenated cottonseed oil
- MFO:
-
Meadowfoam oil
References
Smith, C.R., Bagby, M.O., Miwa, T.K., Lomar, R.L., and Wolff, I.A. (1960)J. Org. Chem. 25, 1770–1774.
Purdy, R.H., and Craig, C.D. (1987)J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 64, 1493–1498.
Anonymous (1982)Meadowfoam, Oregon Meadowfoam Growers Association, S.E., Salem, OR.
Beare-Rogers, J.L. (1977)Prog. Chem. Fats Other Lipids 15, 29–56.
Adlof, R.O. (1988)J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 65, 1541–1542.
Abraham, S., Matthes, K.J., and Chaikoff, I.L. (1961)Biochim. Biophys. Acta 49, 268–285.
Abraham, S., Hillyard, L.A., Lin, C.Y., and Schwartz, R.S. (1983)Lipids 18, 820–829.
Christie, W.W. (1973)Lipid Analysis, pp. 88–91, Pergamon Press, Inc., New York.
Robinson, A.M., Girard, J.R., and Williamson, D.H. (1978)Biochem. J. 176, 342–346.
Emken, E.A., Abraham, S., and Lin, C.Y. (1987)Biochim. Biophys. Acta 919, 111–121.
Freund, R.J., and Littell, R.C. (1981)SAS for Linear Models: A Guide to the ANOVA and GLM Procedures, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.
Holman, R.T. (1960)J. Nutr. 70, 405–410.
Deuel, Jr., H.J. (1955)The Lipids, Vol. II, pp. 604–606. Interscience Publishers, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.
About this article
Cite this article
Emken, E.A., Adlof, R.O. & Abraham, S. Metabolism of meadowfoam oil fatty acids in mice. Lipids 26, 736–742 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535623
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535623