Nutritionally enriched 1,3-diacylglycerol-rich oil: Low calorie fat with hypolipidemic effects in rats

An enzymatic process was developed for the preparation of a nutritionally enriched 1,3-diacylglycerol(DAG)-rich oil from a blend of refined sunflower and rice bran oils. The process involves hydrolysis of vegetable oil blend using Candida cylindracea followed by esterification with glycerol using Lipozyme RM1M. The resultant DAG-rich oil contains 84% of DAG (66% of 1,3-DAG, 18% of 1,2-DAG) and 16% of triacylglycerol (TAG) along with micro nutrients like gamma-oryzanol, tocotrienols, tocopherols and phytosterols. Nutritional studies of the DAG-rich oil were conducted in Wistar rats and compared with sunflower oil (SFO). The calorific value of the DAG-rich oil was estimated to be 6.45 Kcals/g as against 9.25 Kcals/g for SFO. The serum and liver cholesterol and TAG levels in rats fed with 1,3-DAG-rich oil were found to be significantly reduced as compared to rats fed diet containing SFO. We conclude that 1,3-DAG-rich oil is a low calorie fat and exhibits hypolipidemic effects.