Abstract
Structured lipids (SLCTs triacylglycerols with short- and long-chain acyl residues) were synthesized by interesterification of triacetin and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from camellia oil, followed by molecular distillation for purification. Different commercial immobilized lipases (Lipozyme RM IM and Novozyme 435), the substrate molar ratios of FAMEs to triacetin, the reaction temperatures and the lipase amounts were studied for their efficiency in producing SLCTs. Results showed that Novozyme 435 was more suitable for this reaction system. Moreover, the optimal reaction conditions for the highest conversion of FAMEs and the highest LLS-TAGs (triacylglycerols with one short- and two long-chain acyl residues) yields were achieved at a molar ratio of FAMEs to triacetin of 3:1, 50 °C of reaction temperature and a lipase amount of 4% (w/v). Scale-up was conducted based on the optimized reaction conditions. Results showed that after 24 h of reaction , the conversion rate of FAMEs was 82.4% and the rate of disubstituted triacetin was 52.4 mol%. The final product yield rate was 94.6%. The effects of the synthesized SLCTs on the plasma lipid level of fasting mice were also studied. The SLCTs could effectively lessen the total triacylglycerol levels in plasma compared to the triacylglycerol group in fasting NIH mice. It suggested that this type of structured lipid might be beneficial for human health, especially for the prevention of obesity.
Highlights
Low-calorie structured lipids (SLs) are tailor-made triacylglycerols (TAGs) that are mainly designed for special nutritional applications, especially to meet for the growing need for healthier foods and to prevent obesity [1,2]
Novozyme 435 displayed a stronger activity in the reaction of triacetin than Lipozyme RM IM
Based on the optimization of reaction conditions, the reaction mixture of acylglycerols contained 52.4% of SLCTs, and the content of SLCTs in the final product was as high as 94.6%
Summary
Low-calorie structured lipids (SLs) are tailor-made triacylglycerols (TAGs) that are mainly designed for special nutritional applications, especially to meet for the growing need for healthier foods and to prevent obesity [1,2]. The most familiar types of low-calorie lipids are triacylglycerols with short- and long-chain acyl residues (SLCTs), triacylglycerols with medium- and long-chain acyl residues (MLCTs) and diacylglycerols (DAGs) [3]. To act as an ideal lipid substitute, the products should contain unsaturated fatty acids, especially essential fatty acids, and have no harmful effects. Salatrim, one of the commercialized SLCTs products, was produced mainly by lipase-catalyzed with hydrogenated oil, which is potentially harmful, and triacylglycerols with only short-chain acyl residues (SCTs) by interesterification [4,5].
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