Inhibiting Lipid Absorption Using Basic Biopolymers

Abstract

Pancreatic lipase is a key enzyme in dietary triacylglycerol degradation, hydrolyzing triacylglycerols to 2-monoacylglycerol and fatty acids. Inhibitors of pancreatic lipase are able to suppress the absorption of dietary fat from the small intestine. Therefore, there have been many reports of lipase inhibitors as potential antiobesity agents. Recently, we discovered that basic biopolymers such as e-polylysine and diethylaminoethyl-polydextrose are strong inhibitors of the pancreatic lipase reaction. In this review, we try to elucidate the mode of inhibition of lipid absorption by basic biopolymers. These compounds might interact with the fat substrate emulsion and inhibit lipolysis, and might act as antiobesity agents by preventing the intestinal absorption of dietary fat. The mechanism of lipase inhibition by basic biopolymers is different from that by orlistat, an antiobesity drug that has been reported to be a selective and potent inhibitor of pancreatic lipase. Therefore, basic biopolymers might repre...