On September 25, 2024, Leslie Coüedelo, Nutrition Project Manager, presented a poster in the session on marine lipids and nutrition, titled: "Impact of DHA structure in marine lipids on its intestinal absorption and metabolic fate."
The 19th edition of GERLI took place from September 23 to 26, 2024, in Brest and focused on "lipids: from the sea to the table."
Summary
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid (EFA) with proven health benefits; improving its bioavailability has become a public health priority in light of recent surveys on consumption. Among the strategies being explored, fatty acid structuring represents a new approach to increasing the bioavailability of DHA.
In this context, we investigated the impact of several DHA-rich formulations derived from microalgal oil, differing in their molecular structures—ethyl ester (DHA-EE), monoglyceride (DHA-MG), or triglyceride with or without added plant phospholipids (DHA-TG+PL or DHA-TG)—on the intestinal absorption of DHA. We therefore assessed the lymphatic bioavailability of DHA in rats administered the different formulations. Additionally, the lipid characteristics of the resulting lymphatic chylomicrons (LMCs) were determined by the DHA composition of the lymphatic TGs and PLs.
The results showed that the DHA-EE formulation was the least favorable for DHA bioavailability, whereas the MG-DHA formulation exhibited significantly higher DHA Cmax (+50%) and AUC (+89%) than the other formulations. This improvement was attributed to bypassing the lipolysis step, resulting in a faster Tmax (1–2 hours shorter) in the MG group. Furthermore, the DHA-MG structure more effectively enriched lymphatic triglycerides (TG) with DHA (+40%) and phospholipids (PL) (+50%) compared to the EE or TG structures.
By modifying the composition and structure of LMC, the delivery and metabolic fate of DHA within the body could be altered to specifically target certain tissues. Thus, the molecular form of fatty acid delivery may be a means of improving the digestion and intestinal absorption of essential fatty acids such as DHA, to the point of modulating the characteristics of the LMC and thereby directing its tissue and metabolic fate.
Based on previous data, we hypothesize that when DHA is structured as TG or EE, it may promote targeting of tissues and hepatic metabolism, whereas when DHA is structured as MG, it may target nervous tissues, such as the retina or the brain.
"Impact of the structural configuration of DHA in marine lipids on its intestinal absorption and metabolic fate"
L. Coüedelo¹, S. Lennon², H. Abrous¹, C. Ikram¹, C. Bouju¹, H. Griffon¹, C. Vaysse¹, L. Larvol², G. Breton²
¹ ITERG, ²POLARIS