Volume 91, Issue 2, February (2004), pp. 219-225 © The Author 2004
doi:10.1079/BJN20031041

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Effects of structured medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols in diets with various levels of fat on body fat accumulation in rats

Tatsuhiro Matsuo¹, Hiroyuki Takeuchi^2
1Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Kita-gun, Miki-cho, Kagawa 761-0795, Japan
²Division of Food Science, Research Laboratory of Nisshin Oillio, Ltd, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-0832, Japan

 (Received 31 March 2003–Revised 27 August 2003–Accepted 7 October 2003)

The effects of structured medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) in diets containing 50–200 g fat/kg on body fat accumulation were compared with those of long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT) in rats. In rats fed ad libitum, weights of intra-abdominal adipose tissues and carcass fat contents were significantly smaller (P<0·05) in rats fed the 150–200 g MLCT/kg diet than in rats fed 150–200 g LCT/kg diet. Serum and liver triacylglycerol contents were significantly greater (P<0·05) in rats fed 200 g MLCT/kg diet, as were hepatic capacities of citrate synthase and cytochrome oxidase (P<0·05). The effects of MLCT on body fat were also examined in adult rats fed a limited amount of food (approximately 50 % of ad libitum intake). Reduction of body fat deposition during the food restriction was the same between in LCT and MLCT groups. These results suggest that accumulation of body fat was less efficient during long-term feeding of MLCT than LCT in rats fed high-fat diets ad libitum. The effect of MLCT on body fat might be influenced by the dietary fat content or by energy sufficiency.

Keywords:
Body fat accumulation, Structured medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols, Dietary fat, Food restriction, Rats

Abbreviations:
LCFA, long-chain fatty acid, LCT, long-chain triacylglycerol, MCFA, medium-chain fatty acid, MCT, medium-chain triglycerol, MLCT, medium- and long-chain triacylglycerol