Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lymphatic Transport of α-Linolenic Acid and Its Conversion to Long Chain n-3 Fatty Acids in Rats Fed Microemulsions of Linseed Oil

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

In the present study we evaluated the uptake of ALA and its conversion to EPA + DHA in rats given linseed oil (LSO) in native form or as a microemulsion in whey protein or in lipoid. In a single oral dose study in which rats maintained on rodent pellets deficient in ω-3 fatty acids were intubated with 0.35 g LSO in lipoid, the amount of ALA present in lymph was increased reaching a maximum concentration of 16.23 mg/ml at 2.5 h. The amount of ALA present in lymph was increased to a maximum level of 10.95 mg/ml at 4 h in rats given LSO as a microemulsion in whey protein. When LSO was given without emulsification, the amount of ALA present in lymph was found to reach a maximum level of 7.08 mg/ml at 6 h. A similar result was observed when weaning rats were intubated with 0.15 g of LSO per day for a period of 60 days. Higher levels of ALA by 41 and 103 % were observed in lymph lipids of rats given microemulsions of LSO in whey protein and in lipoid respectively as compared to rats given LSO without pre-emulsification. Very little conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA was observed in lymph lipids but higher amounts of EPA + DHA was observed in liver and serum of rats given LSO in microemulsion form. This study indicated that ALA concentration in lymph lipids was increased when LSO was given in microemulsion form in lipoid and further conversion to EPA and DHA was facilitated in liver and serum.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

LSO:

Linseed oil

LA:

Linoleic acid (18:2, n-6)

ARA:

Arachidonic acid (20:4, n-6)

ALA:

α-Linolenic acid (18:3, n-3)

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, n-3)

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6, n-3)

References

  1. Carey MC, Small DM, Bliss CM (1983) Lipid digestion and absorption. Annu Rev Physiol 45:651–677

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Singh H, Ye A, Home D (2009) Structuring food emulsions in the gastrointestinal tract to modify lipid digestion. Prog Lipid Res 48:92–100

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Golding M, Wooster TJ (2010) The influence of emulsion structure and stability on lipid digestion. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 15:90–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. You YQ, Ling PR, Qu JZ, Bistrian BR (2008) Effects of medium-chain triglycerides, long-chain triglycerides, or 2-monododecanoin on fatty acid composition in the portal vein, intestinal lymph, and systemic circulation in rats. J Parenter Enteral Nutr 32:169–175

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Iqbal J, Hussain MM (2009) Intestinal lipid absorption. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 296:E1183–E1194

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Sugasini D, Lokesh BR (2012) Uptake of α-linolenic acid and its conversion to long chain omega-3 fatty acids in rats fed microemulsions of linseed oil. Lipids 247:1155–1167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bollman JL, Cain JC, Grindlay JH (1948) Techniques for the collection of lymph from the liver, small intestine or thoracic duct of rat. J Lab Clin Med 33:1349–1352

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Combe N, Constantin MJ, Entressangles B (1981) Lymphatic absorption of nonvolatile oxidation products of heated oils in the rat. Lipids 16:8–14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Porsgaard T, Staarup EM, Hoy CE (1999) Lymphatic fatty acid absorption profile during 24 hours after administration of triglycerides to rats. Lipids 34:103–107

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Bligh EG, Dyer WJ (1959) A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Can J Biochem Physiol 37:911–917

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Morrison WR, Smith LM (1964) Preparation of fatty acid methyl esters and dimethyl acetals with boron trifluoride methanol. J Lipid Res 5:600–608

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Stewart JCM (1980) Colorimetric estimation of phospholipids with ammonium ferrothiocyanate. Anal Biochem 104:10–14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Sugasini D, Lokesh BR (2013) Enhanced incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid in serum, heart and brain of rats given microemulsions of fish oil. Mol Cell Biochem 382:203–216

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Garaiova I, Guschina IA, Plummer SF, Tang J, Wang D, Plummer NT (2007) A randomised cross-over trial in healthy adults indicating improved absorption of omega-3 fatty acids by pre-emulsification. Nutr J 6:4. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-6-4

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Cansell M, Nacka F, Combe N (2003) Marine lipid based liposome increase in vivo FA bioavailability. Lipids 38:551–559

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cansell M, Moussaoui N, Petit AP, Denizot A, Combe N (2006) Feeding rats with liposomes or fish oil differently affects their lipid metabolism. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 108:459–467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Haug IJ, Sagmo LB, Zeiss D, Olsen IC, Draget IK, Seternes T (2011) Bioavailability of EPA and DHA delivered by gelled emulsions and soft gel capsules. Eur J Lipid Res 113:137–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ammar W, Grahame M, Alberto D, Gordo B, Stephen A (2010) Enhanced bioavailability of eicosapentaenoic acid from fish oil after encapsulation within plant spore exines as microcapsules. Lipids 45:645–649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Dey TK, Ghosh S, Ghosh M, Koley H, Dhar P (2012) Comparative study of gastrointestinal absorption of EPA and DHA rich fish oil from nano and conventional emulsion formulation in rats. Food Res Intern 49:72–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. McDonald GB, Weidman M (1987) Partitioning of polar fatty acids into lymph and portal vein after intestinal absorption in the rat. Quarterly J Exp Physiol 72:153–159

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Ji Y, Li X, Tso P (2009) Intestinal fatty acid absorption. Immun Endoc Metab Agents Med Chem 9:60–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Christensen MS, Hoy CE, Becker CC, Redgrave TG (1995) Intestinal absorption of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and decanoic acids (DA): dependence on intramolecular and triacylglycerol structure. Am J Clin Nutr 61:56–61

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Niot I, Poirier H, Tran TT, Besnard P (2009) Intestinal absorption of long-chain fatty acids: evidence and uncertainties. Prog Lipid Res 48:101–115

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Carnielli V, Verlato G, Pederzini F, Luijendijk I, Boerlage A, Pedrotti D, Sauer P (1998) Intestinal absorption of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in preterm infants fed breast milk or formula. Am J Clin Nutr 67:97–103

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Abrahamse E, Minekus M, Van Aken GA, Heijning BV, Knol J, Bartke N, Oozeer R, VanderBeek EM, Ludwig T (2012) Development of the digestive system—experimental challenges and approaches of infant lipid digestion. Food Dig 3:63–77

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Couedelo L, Vaysse CB, Fonseca L, Montesinos E, Djoukitch S, Combe N, Cansell M (2011) Lymphatic absorption of α-linolenic acid in rats fed flaxseed oil-based emulsion. Br J Nutr 105:1026–1035

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Nishimukai M, Hara H (2007) Soybean phosphatidylcholine induced enhancement of lymphatic absorption of triglyceride depends on chylomicron formation in rats. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 71:1192–1197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Chen Q, Nileson A (1994) Interconversion of α-linolenic acid in rat intestinal mucosa: studies in vivo and in isolated villus and crypt cells. J Lipid Res 35:601–609

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Christiansen EN, Rortveit T, Norum KR, Thomassen MS (1986) Fatty acid chain elongation in rat small intestine. Biochem J 237:293–295

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Garg ML, Keelan M, Thomsan ABR, Clandinin MT (1986) Fatty acid desaturation in intestinal mucosa. Biochem Biophys Acta 958:139–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ramaprasad TR, Baskaran V, Sambaiah K, Lokesh BR (2010) Lower efficacy in the utilization of dietary ALA as compared to preformed EPA + DHA on long chain omega-3 PUFA levels in rats. Lipids 45:799–808

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Vermunt SHF, Mensink RP, Simonis MGM, Hornstra G (2000) Effects of dietary α-linolenic acid on the conversion and oxidation of 13C-α-linolenic acid. Lipids 35:137–142

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Fu Z, Sinclair AZ (2000) Increased α-linolenic acid intake increases tissue α-linolenic acid content and apparent oxidation with little effect on tissue docosahexaenoic acid in the guinea pig. Lipids 35:395–400

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Minich DM, Venk RJ, Verkade HJ (1997) Intestinal absorption of essential fatty acids under physiological and essential fatty acid- deficient conditions. J Lipid Res 38:1709–1721

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the keen interest and encouragement of Prof. Ram Rajasekharan, Director, Central Food Technological Research Institute for this work. D. Sugasini acknowledges the grant of a Senior Research Fellowship by the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India. The authors acknowledge the help of Nugehally Srinivas, Jubilant biosciences, Bangalore in giving training in collecting lymph fluids from rats.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Lipid Science and Traditional Foods, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, 570 020, India

    D. Sugasini & B. R. Lokesh

  2. Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Jubilant Biosys, Bangalore, 560 022, India

    V. C. Devaraj & Mullangi Ramesh

Authors
  1. D. Sugasini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. C. Devaraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mullangi Ramesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. R. Lokesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. R. Lokesh.

About this article

Cite this article

Sugasini, D., Devaraj, V.C., Ramesh, M. et al. Lymphatic Transport of α-Linolenic Acid and Its Conversion to Long Chain n-3 Fatty Acids in Rats Fed Microemulsions of Linseed Oil. Lipids 49, 225–233 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-013-3873-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-013-3873-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation