Nutritional effects of the cyclic monomers of methyl linolenate in the rat

Low levels (0.0075, 0.0225, and 0.15%) of cyclic fatty acid methyl esters (greater than 98% pure) were incorporated into diets of weanling rats fed different levels of protein. Animals on low protein diets (8-10% casein) exhibited decreased wt gains and feed consumption with increasing levels of cyclic esters in their diets after 6 weeks. Liver enlargements due to a significant (P less than 0.01) accumulation of liver lipid were noted in animals receiving 0.15% cyclic fatty acid esters in their diets.