Posted by Larry Hoover on November 20, 2002, at 14:21:37
In reply to Re: absorption of fatty acids » Larry Hoover, posted by catmint on November 20, 2002, at 14:03:14
> >Absorption of these two fatty acids from the gut is strongly influenced by the amount of fat in the meal in which they were consumed. Always take fish oil with your fattiest meal of the day.
>
> Larry, please explain. I usually take fish oil in the morning after a meal of rice, walnuts, and milk. That is not a non-fat meal, still it is probably low-fat. Is that enough fat to absorb the EPA/DHA?I base that opinion on the following study, and other similar reports. It is the total fat content of a meal which determines the secretion of the emulsifying components in bile, and also of the pancreatic enzyme lipase (which hydrolyzes the triglycerides to their free fatty acid form). If the fish oil supplement is the only really fatty component of the meal, there may not be enough total fat to trigger the release of the chemicals needed to facilitate its uptake.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1988 Oct 31;156(2):960-3
Absorption of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from fish oil triacylglycerols or fish oil ethyl esters co-ingested with a high-fat meal.
Lawson LD, Hughes BG.
Murdock Pharmaceuticals, Springville, Utah 84663.
The absorption of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil triacylglycerols and fish oil ethyl esters consumed in a high-fat meal (44 g total fat) by male volunteers was measured and compared to values previously reported for consumption in a low-fat meal (8 g total fat). Absorption of EPA, but not of DHA, from fish oil triacylglycerols was significantly improved from 69% to 90% by co-ingestion with the high-fat meal. Absorption of both EPA and DHA from fish oil ethyl esters was increased three-fold, to about 60%, by co-ingestion with the high-fat meal, indicating that absorption of fatty acid ethyl esters is highly dependent on the amount of co-ingested fat.
>
> Amy
>
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:128343
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021116/msgs/128492.html