Fatty Acid Absorption Study

ISRCTN ISRCTN43202606
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN43202606
Secondary identifying numbers 2002.112
Submission date
10/01/2007
Registration date
22/01/2007
Last edited
26/03/2008
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Sue Plummer
Scientific

Obsidian Research Limited
Unit 2 Christchurch Road
Baglan Industrial Park
Port Talbot
SA12 7BZ
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designRandomised cross-over study with oral ingestion of a fatty acid mixture in the form of an oil mixture or a water miscible oil emulsion.
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Scientific title
Study acronymFAAS
Study objectivesThe biochemical importance of dietary lipids to human physiology and nutrition is now firmly established and research continues to show potential health benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and in particular the omega 3 fatty acids from fish and precursors of the same family found in many plant oils. Current UK recommendations advise the public to eat at least two portions of fish every week including one of oily fish, which is rich in omega-3 PUFAs, or take more than 200 mg/day of omega-3 PUFAs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one portion should provide an equivalent of 200-500 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In fact most people in the UK consume considerably less than one portion per week indicating that the recommended levels are not being achieved leaving fish oil supplementation as the most convenient route to augment dietary intake. However, reaching recommended intake levels may require taking several capsules of fish oil per day. An alternative is to use a more palatable version of liquid fish oils presented as a flavoured emulsion, which may offer a more flexible route to achieve the required level of intake.

Approximately 95% of dietary lipids ingested from foods consist of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and lipid digestion is initiated by the action of lingual/gastric lipases which, together with the physical mixing action of the stomach, produces small partially emulsified droplets containing mainly TAGs but also free fatty acids (FFA) and diacylglycerols. Further emulsification together with the action of pancreatic lipase results in the production of 2-monoacylglycerols (sn2-MAG) and free fatty acids and these are incorporated into mixed micelles before passive diffusion into the enterocyte. Once inside the enterocyte the fatty acids with less than 12 carbon atoms pass directly into the hepatic portal vein. However, most dietary fatty acids have a chain length greater than 12 and these are re-synthesised into TAG and incorporated into the chylomicron (CM) family of lipoproteins which are secreted into the lymphatic system and transported to the thoracic lymphatic duct where they enter the circulation. The fatty acid composition of the core of the CM - TAG generally reflects the dietary fatty acid profile, particularly in the first four to six hours postprandial period. The CM-TAG are rapidly hydrolysed by lipoprotein lipase (LPL) releasing between 70 and 90% of the total TAG and leaving CM remnants which are removed from the plasma via low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in the liver. There have been conflicting observations that the use of emulsified forms of fish oils in some studies has led to improved digestion and absorption of EPA and DHA with other studies showing no differences in absorption.

Preliminary research in our laboratory has indicated that both the rate and extent of absorption of the fatty acids EPA and DHA improve if the oil is pre-emulsified prior to ingestion. This cross over absorption study was designed to establish whether pre-emulsification of an oil mixture leads to improved absorption of fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, compared with the non-emulsified form of the oil mixture.

The hypothesis of this trial is that absorption of fatty acids occurs more rapidly and extensively in a pre-emulsified form than in the straight oil.
Ethics approval(s)Approval received by the local research ethics committee (Lechyd Morgannwg Health) on the 2nd October 2002.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedAbsorption of fatty acids as part of a healthy dietary lifestyle
InterventionIn a cross-over study, participants were randomly assigned to receive either the oil mixture or oil emulsion mixture, with thirteen subjects receiving oil and eleven subjects receiving oil emulsion in the first stage. The mixtures of oils (comprising concentrated fish oil 43%, borage oil 31% and flaxseed oil 26%) in both the natural form and in the emulsified form were supplied by Cultech Ltd., Port Talbot, United Kingdom.

The participants fasted for 12 hours prior to the study. Subjects consumed 30 ml of oil as part of a meal comprising fat free cereal (37.5 g), skimmed milk (230 ml), sugar (4 g) and apple juice (150 ml). For the remainder of the nine hour collection period the participants ate only boiled rice (100 g), boiled pasta (100 g) and fresh fruit (large apple). Apple juice or water was available to drink throughout the day. The average energy intake was 3596 kJ (859 kcal) comprising 147 g carbohydrate, 23 g protein and 32 g total fat. Twenty days later (washout period), the procedure was repeated with the assignments reversed.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measurePlasma fatty acid concentrations.
Secondary outcome measuresNo secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date14/02/2003
Completion date28/02/2003

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants24
Key inclusion criteria1. Healthy volunteers, male or female
2. Body mass index (BMI) less than 30
3. Capable of providing written informed consent
4. Not pregnant or subject to medication
Key exclusion criteria1. Involved in dietary control
2. Obese/very low body weight
3. Hypercholesterolemic
4. Taking dietary fatty acid supplements
Date of first enrolment14/02/2003
Date of final enrolment28/02/2003

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • United Kingdom
  • Wales

Study participating centre

Obsidian Research Limited
Port Talbot
SA12 7BZ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Obsidian Research Limited (UK)
Industry

Unit 2 Christchurch Road
Baglan Industrial Park
Port Talbot
SA12 7BZ
United Kingdom

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Funded in-house by Cultech Limited with financial support from Welsh Development Agency as part of Technology Exploitation Programme (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article Results 25/01/2007 Yes No
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