Effect of Hydrogenated Triolein on Utilization of Essential Fatty Acids in the Rat. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Rats which were depleted of essential fatty acids after 16 weeks on a fat-free diet were maintained for 8 weeks thereafter on either a continued fat-free diet, fat-free diets containing 2 levels of hydrogenated triolein (containing 33% of trans isomers and no essential fatty acids), fat-free diets containing 2 levels of methyl linoleate, or fat-free diets supplemented with both linoleate and the hydrogenated triolein at the 2 levels. The animals receiving the linoleate supplement alone or the linoleate plus the hydrogenated triolein showed equivalent weight gains over an 8-week period. In the absence of the linoleate there was no aggravation of the deficiency syndrome. No observable antimetabolic activity of the hydrogenated triolein was evident.