Olestra ingestion and retinyl palmitate absorption in humans

This study examined the effect of olestra, a zero-calorie fat replacement, on the absorption of retinyl palmitate in humans. After a 30-d adaptation period during which they consumed 10 g olestra/d in potato chips under free-living conditions, 68 healthy male subjects were housed in a metabolic ward and given a single dose of retinyl palmitate (0.33 RDA) containing a trace amount of 3H-retinyl palmitate with a breakfast that contained 0, 8, 20 or 32 g of olestra and about 38 g of triglyceride. Blood was collected at defined intervals for 48 h and plasma analyzed for 3H-retinyl esters by HPLC and liquid scintillation spectrometry. There was no significant effect on retinyl palmitate absorption as determined from the area under the plasma 3H-retinyl esters concentration-time curve. However, an area under the plasma concentration-time curve in the 32-g olestra group that was 81% (mean value) or 70% (median value) of the area under the curve for the placebo group suggested that olestra may have affected retinyl palmitate absorption. Inclusion or exclusion of 13 high responders did not change the results.