Fish Oil Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Fish Oil, including details on omega-3, dosage, health benefits, diet.

Synthesis of acylglycerols from omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid isomers.

Zuta CP, Simpson BK, Yeboah FK

Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University (Macdonald Campus), 21,111 Lakeshore Rd., Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada, H9X 3V9.

n-3 PUFA (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) concentrate from mackerel oil enriched in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) was used to esterify isomers of CLA (conjuated linoleic acid) to produce acylglycerols (glycerides). Catalysis was potentiated by immobilized lipases from the yeast Candida antarctica and the mould Mucor miehei. C. antarctica lipase showed higher reactivity and much faster initial rate of incorporation of CLA into acylglycerols than its M. miehei counterpart. Synthesis with molecular sieves also achieved a better rate of incorporation of fatty acids into acylglycerols than using vacuum or systems without water removal. Esterification achieved at 40 degrees C with C. antarctica lipase was significantly different from that achieved at 60 or 50 degrees C. However, there was no significant (P<0.05) difference between esterification at 50 degrees C and 60 degrees C. The molar ratio of glycerol to fatty acid was found to influence the initial rate of incorporation, with the lower ratios showing higher initial rates compared with the higher ratios. The present study shows that direct esterification is an effective mechanism for producing acylglycerols from fatty acids in a controlled system.

Published 12 December 2005 in Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 43: 25-32.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Fish Oil Research Today. All Rights Reserved.