Lymphatic absorption of nonvolatile oxidation products of heated oils in the rat

The lymphatic absorption of nonvolatile oxidation products (NVOP) formed during heating of fats was studied. Heated colza or soybean oils or synthetic triglycerides containing a definite aromatic or alicyclic fatty acid were fed to thoracic duct-cannulated rats. Tritium-labeled triolein was added to each dietary fat, as an internal standard, in order to calculate the percentage of lymphatic absorption of the ingested NVOP. Results show that 4% of the total polymeric acids, 53% of the total oxidized monomeric acids and 96% of the total cyclic monomeric acids were recovered in the lymphatic lipids. Gas liquid and quantitative thin layer chromatography of these 3 classes indicated that, within a NVOP class, the various constituents did not present the same absorption rate. The lymphatic absorptions of individual oxidized monomers were between 25 and 93%. Concerning the polymer fraction, the lymphatic recoveries were 1% (nonpolar dimers), 6.8% (polar dimers) and 12% (polar oligomers). Aromatic acids were absorbed to a lesser degree (50-60%) than cyclohexenic acids (91-98%).