Alpha-Linolenic Acid-Enriched Diacylglycerol Oil Suppresses the Postprandial Serum Triglyceride Level—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

Abstract

SummaryThis study investigated the effect of a single oral ingestion of alpha-linolenic acid-enriched diacylglycerol (ALA-DAG) on postprandial serum triglyceride (TG) levels. A randomized, double-blind, controlled, crossover study was performed in subjects with normal or moderately high fasting serum TG levels. Subjects ingested 0.00 g [control: triacylglycerol; TAG (rapeseed oil)], 1.25 g (1.25-g: mixture of 1.25 g ALA-DAG and 1.25 g TAG), or 2.50 g (2.50 g) of ALA-DAG in random order with a 6-d washout period. Serum TG levels were evaluated in the fasting state, and at 2, 3, 4, and 6 h after the test meal. Thirty-eight subjects completed the study and were defined as the per protocol set. As the primary outcome, postprandial serum TG levels were significantly lower in the 2.50-g treatment compared with the control. The TG level did not differ significantly between the 1.25-g and control. The suppressive effect of ALA-DAG on the serum TG level correlated significantly with the body mass index and fasting insulin level. ALA-DAG at a dose of 2.50 g had greater effects on serum TG and apolipoprotein B levels in subjects with a higher body mass index ($25 kg/m 2 ) and higher fasting serum insulin levels (.10 mU/mL). Our findings suggest that ingesting 2.50 g ALA-DAG suppresses the postprandial serum TG level in people with normal and moderately high fasting serum TG levels, presumably as a result of poor reesterification of dietary fat into TG in the intestinal mucosa.

The review of alpha‐linolenic acid: Sources, metabolism, and pharmacology

“…A trial showed that ALA‐rich diglyceride (2.5 g/day) reduced the postprandial serum TG level in 38 subjects with normal and moderately high fasting serum TG levels. However, their trial showed that low‐dose ALA‐rich diglyceride (1.25 g/day) had no therapeutic effect (Yamanaka et al, 2016). A 4‐week trial showed that ALA‐rich diglyceride (2.5 g/day) reduced visceral fat area and increased fat oxidation in 17 normal and moderately obese subjects (Ando, Saito, Miura, Osaki, & Katsuragi, 2017).…”

“…A trial showed that ALA‐rich diglyceride (2.5 g/day) reduced the postprandial serum TG level in 38 subjects with normal and moderately high fasting serum TG levels. Low‐dose ALA‐rich diglyceride (1.25 g/day) had no therapeutic effect (Yamanaka et al, 2016). Another trial showed that both high‐dose ALA (3.4 g/day) and low‐dose ALA (0.9 g/day) could improve vascular function and inflammation in 81 overweight‐to‐obese patients with metabolic syndrome by decreasing the expression of CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐6, sICAM‐1, sE‐selectin, YKL‐40, and asymmetric dimethylarginine (Cavina et al, 2021; Egert et al, 2014).…”

“…Moreover, clinical studies have also shown that ALA can be used to treat obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (Heskey et al, 2016; Yue et al, 2020). In addition, the dose influences the therapeutic effect of ALA (Y. Shen et al, 2018; Wen et al, 2019; Yamanaka et al, 2016).…”

Perilla frutescens seed oil combined with Anredera cordifolia leaf powder attenuates age-related cognitive decline by reducing serum triglyceride and glucose levels in healthy elderly Japanese individuals: a possible supplement for brain health

“…74,75 Similarly, Egert et al 76 reported that serum TG levels significantly decreased after ALA intervention in normolipidemic individuals. Furthermore, Yamanaka et al 77 reported in a randomised, double-blind, controlled crossover study that a single oral ingestion of ALA-rich diacylglycerol oil suppressed postprandial serum TG levels in humans. These results suggest that the decrease in serum TG levels observed in both the PO and POAC groups after 12 months of treatment was caused by the increased ALA intake.…”

Production and immobilization of lipase PCL and its application in synthesis of α-linolenic acid-rich diacylglycerol

“…In food products especially monoacylglycerols and diacylglycerols (MAG and DAG, respectively) are frequently used due to their facile delivery to the human body and the simple processability of these compounds in the dietary products. Some very recent studies showed that α‐linolenic acid‐rich diacylglycerol has promising health promotion functions especially in reduction of visceral fat area (VFA), BMI and serum triacylglycerol (TAG) in men and women with overweight (Ando et al, ; Saito, Fukuhara, Osaki, Nakamura, & Katsuragi, ; Saito, Mori, Osaki, & Katsuragi, ; Yamanaka et al, ). Research showed that DAG activated enzymes involved in β‐oxidation in the liver and small intestine (Murase et al, ; Murase, Aoki, Wakisaka, Hase, & Tokimitsu, ).…”