Science short
Formula fat distribution affects baby fat distribution: Rat study
IOI Loders Croklaan’s ‘Betapol’ infant formula lipid was found to have better outcomes on fat tissue because palmitic acid (PA; also known as hexadecanoic acid) was located at a different position (sn-2) in the molecule compared to regular vegetable fats.
40 make wistar rats were fed diets high (Hsn-2) or low (Lsn-2) in Betapol for five weeks in the study.
Professor Sebastiano Banni, of the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Cagliari in Italy, found a high concentration of PA affects incorporation into phospoholipids (PLs) and influence on other bodily molecules like endocannabinoids.
“Our data show that the position of dietary PA in sn-2 of triacylglycerol (TAGs) results in a better incorporation of PA in intestine, adipose tissue and liver PLs,” the researchers wrote.
They said their study pointed to “lower susceptibility to inflammation, improved feed efficiency, and opens to possible activities in the regulation of fat deposition and brain function.”
Source:
PLOS One
March 2015
‘Dietary Triacylglycerols with Palmitic Acid in the sn-2 Position Modulate Levels of NAcylethanolamides in Rat Tissues’
Authors: Sebastiano Banni et al