Supplementation studies involving natural trans fatty acids: real technical challenges, actual solutions

• DOI: 10.13140/rg.2.2.32665.52322
• Publication Date: 2018-05-06
• Authors: Étienne Guillocheau; Gaëtan Drouin; Daniel Catheline; Philippe Legrand; Vincent Rioux
• Keywords: Palmitoleic acid

Growing evidence suggests that natural trans fatty acids should be distinguished from industrial ones, regarding their impact on human health. One isomer at a time therefore considered in nutritional studies. However, high amount combined with an excellent purity of the corresponding remains challenge. This study aimed providing means to overcome such issues. The purification several grams trans-palmitoleic acid (C16:1 n-7 trans, TPA) was this study, starting cis-palmitoleic cis, CPA). Fatty were used as ethyl esters. Several sources CPA evaluated. following critically assessed: Flash HPLC, urea complexation, and crystallization solvent. Within each step, checked by GC-MS, best chosen. Macadamia nut deemed reliable source CPA, other cis-C16:1 isomers being present low amounts. Purification carried out using HPLC. isomerization TPA easily done. Removing much possible CPA-TPA mix performed solvent, ensuring 99%-purity final product. Complementary get amounts highly purified-TPA. Not only esters suitable for purposes, but they made control GC-MS easy. Provided availability cis-isomer, our strategy can applied any monounsaturated acid.