Computers in the lipid research laboratory

Triacylglycerol analysis of potential margarine base stocks by high-performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection

Several margarine base stock candidates have previously been prepared for the purpose of finding better, more oxidatively stable food components: high-saturate vegetable oils, randomized vegetable oils, vegetable oil-hard stock blends, and interesterified vegetable oil-hard stock blends. Here are reported the triacylglycerol compositions of these products, determined using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with a flame ionization detector or a quadrupole mass spectrometer with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source. Triacylglycerol percent composition results for samples of known composition (randomized and interesterified samples) exhibited less average error by HPLC coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source, after application of response factors, than the results by HPLC coupled with a flame ionization detector. The fatty acid compositions calculated from the mass spectrometric data exhibited less average error than the fatty acid compositions resulting from the flame ionization detector data. The average error of the fatty acid compositions by the mass spectrometer was lowest for interesterified blend samples, next lowest for randomized samples, then followed by high-saturated fatty acid oils, normal oils, and blends. Analysis of the vegetable oil-hard stock blends by mass spectrometer required special treatment for calculation of response factors.

Measurement of the metabolic interconversion of deuterium-labeled fatty acids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

An analytical method that was developed to analyze deuterium-labeled fatty acids in human blood has been extended to identify labeled fatty acids from C14 to C24 chain length which are formed by metabolic processes such as desaturation, elongation, or shortening of the labeled fatty acids fed. A new computer and a hardware adder have been utilized to assure reliable data acquisition. Relative standard deviations for the analysis of labeled fatty acids were measured at 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 at the 5%, 1%, and 0.2% levels of the labeled fatty acid methyl esters, respectively. The method makes extensive use of standards and computer processing for accuracy and high productivity. Data from a chylomicron triacylglycerol fraction are included to demonstrate the sensitivity of detection of metabolites formed by desaturation and elongation.

Cyclic fatty esters: synthesis, characterization, and lipolysis of isomeric triglycerides of 9-(6-propyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-(Z)8-nonenoic acid

Triglycerides of a model cyclic fatty acid (CFA) 9-(6-propyl-3-cyclohexenyl)-(Z)8-nonenoic acid (Ia) were synthesized for biological and toxicity evaluations. The monoacid triglyceride II (CyCyCy) was interesterified with triolein (OOO) to obtain mixtures of diacid triglycerides: III (OOCy), IV (OCyO), V (OCyCy), and VI (CyOCy). The interesterification mixtures were separated by preparative HPLC into two 'critical pairs' of isomeric triglycerides. Triglycerides III-VI were synthesized and a 13C-NMR method was developed to estimate 'critical pairs'. CFA-triglycerides were characterized by IR, NMR, HPLC and capillary GLC, and their relative rates of hydrolysis by lipase were compared. Although tricyclin (II) was completely resistant to lipolysis, triglycerides III and VI hydrolyzed significantly slower than triolein, and the 'critical pairs' hydrolyzed as readily as triolein. Therefore, partial CFA-triglycerides formed in heat-abused fats can undergo lipolysis and likely be absorbed like normal dietary fats.

Effects of dietary fiber from wheat, corn, and soy hull bran on excretion of fecal bile acids in humans

Effects of dietary fiber on bile acid excretion and fecal bile acid concentration have been studied for seven subjects fed 26 g of either soft white wheat bran, corn bran, soybean hulls, or hard red spring wheat bran. Results indicate that even in a controlled study using a metabolic word, individual subject variation has a major impact on fecal bile acid excretion. This observation has not been fully appreciated in previous human studies. No significant change in the composition of fecal bile acids could be associated with the decrease in serum lipid levels previously reported. A method for the isolation and quantitation of fecal bile acids is described which does not require purification by thin-layer chromatography. A preliminary study of lyophilized fecal samples stored at -10 to -30 degrees C showed very little or no change in bile acid content. Samples stored at room temperatures for 11 months showed a substantial reduction in bile acid content.