Dietary diacylglycerol oil has no effect on hypertriacylglycerolaemia in lipoprotein lipase-deficient cats

Abstract

A commercially available vegetable oil containing a high concentration (87 %, w/w) of diacylglycerol (DAG) has been investigated in humans and animals for potential beneficial effects in reducing serum TAG concentrations in fasting and postprandial states. Effects of DAG oil as a sole dietary fat source (25 % metabolisable energy) were evaluated in a feline model of hypertriacylglycerolaemia. Eleven adult (1·5 (sem0·1) years) male cats deficient of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) catalytic activity from a heritable point mutation of theLPLgene were acclimatised to a semi-purified diet containing TAG oil for 21 d. After assignment into two groups, pair-matched by serum TAG concentrations (range 6·1–31·6 mmol/l), the cats were fed the diet with either TAG or DAG oil for 8 d. The dietary fat source was crossed-over and presented for 8 d more. Non-fasting serum concentrations of TAG, cholesterol and NEFA were measured on days 6–8 and days 14–16. Dietary fat source (DAGv.TAG) did not significantly affect food intake (491 (sem16)v.486 (sem14) kJ/kg0·67), body weight or serum concentrations (mmol/l) of TAG (37·1 (sem4·5)v.33·9 (sem3·4)), cholesterol (4·8 (sem0·3)v.4·8 (sem0·2)) and NEFA (1·4 (sem0·2)v.1·4 (sem0·2)). The results show that for a feeding trial of 8 d, DAG oil was well accepted and tolerated by cats but did not reduce hypertriacylglycerolaemia resulting from a deficiency of LPL catalytic activity.