Emulsification and Fatty Acid Chain Length Affect the Kinetics of [14C]-Medium-Chain Triacylglycerol Utilization by Neonatal Piglets

Abstract

In vivo oxidation kinetics of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) composed of [1-14C]hexanoate (tri-6:0) or [1-14C]octanoate (tri-8:0) were compared after being fed to day-old piglets (1.4 kg; n = 4/treatment). Animals were fitted with arterial and oro-gastric catheters and placed into respiration chambers held at 35 degrees C. The radiolabeled MCT were fed in equimolar amounts (6.5 mmol/kg0.75), in either nonemulsified form or as 30% (v/v) emulsions, using polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate as an emulsifier. Expired CO2 was quantified and specific radioactivity (Bq/mumol) determined at 20-min intervals over 24 h, and serial blood samples were drawn for measurement of plasma hexanoate and octanoate by HPLC. The rate [mumol/(h.kg0.75)] and extent (mmol/kg0.75) of MCT oxidative utilization (i.e., composite of digestion, absorption and oxidation) were calculated from the kinetics of 14CO2 expiration. Emulsification increased both the rate and extent of MCT oxidative utilization by > 20% regardless of fatty acid chain length (P < 0.05). Maximal MCT oxidation rates occurred at 3.5 h after feeding and were sufficient to meet up to 48% of the piglets' energy expenditure. The maximal rate of tri-6:0 oxidative utilization exceeded that of tri-8:0 by 37% (P < 0.05), but the extent of utilization was not affected by fatty acid chain length. Plasma medium-chain fatty acid concentrations were in agreement with these observations, being higher in pigs fed emulsified MCT than in pigs fed nonemulsified MCT (P < 0.05) and being higher in pigs fed tri-6:0 than in animals fed tri-8:0 (P < 0.05). Collectively, these data demonstrate that newborn piglets can effectively digest, absorb and oxidize MCT, that utilization is improved with emulsification, and that tri-6:0 is utilized more rapidly than tri-8:0.