NUTKITIOXAL VALUE OF MODIFIED FATS AXD OILS 929 



portance in the utilization of these products in foods, it was found by Wai'd 

 et al^^^ that tristearin was equally soluble, on a weight basis, in 1,2-diaceto- 

 3-olein, 1 ,2-dibutyro-3-olein, and cottonseed oil. On a mole fraction basis 

 the tristearin was most soluble in triolein and least soluble in the diaceto- 

 olein. Hydrogenated cottonseed oil was equally soluble, on a weight basis, 

 in the acetoolein product and in cottonseed oil. 



Mattson and co-workers*^° reported feeding experiments with diacetin 

 fats containing stearic acid. It was found that the long-chain fatty acids 

 with an iodine value of one were best utilized in the form of diacetin fat, 

 and hence the group consuming this material exhibited greater food effi- 

 ciency than did the corresponding control group fed triglycerides consisting 

 entirely of long-chain fatty acids with an iodine number of one. 



On the other hand, triacetin has been said to have a deleterious effect on 

 growth, in the absence of fat. Bosshardt and Huff ^^^ found that mice fed 

 a low-fat diet complete in other dietary essentials grew normally, but that 

 the addition to the diet of metabohc stress factors, including succinyl- 

 sulfathiazole (2%) and triacetin (15%), separately or in combination, re- 

 sulted in retardation of growth. This retardation could be prevented if the 

 diet was supplemented with fat, fatty acids, defatted cottonseed meal, or 

 water-extracted liver residue. These workers concluded tentatively that 

 triacetin interferes with the sjnithesis of long-chain acids by the animal, 

 and that cottonseed oil and liver contain some factor essential for this 

 synthesis. In these tests the triacetin was used as a fat precursor. Acetate 

 can also be utilized in this manner. However, unutilized acetate, if present 

 in large concentrations, may produce toxic effects in the animal, by up- 

 setting the acid-base balance. ^^^ 



Feuge^"* stated, in 1955, that "the acetoglycerides cannot be recom- 

 mended for food use until absolute proof of edibility has been established." 

 However, since they are readily hydrolyzed in the intestinal tract, to yield 

 gl3'cerol, acetic acid, fat-forming acids, and mono- and diglycerides,^**^**^^ 

 the acetoglycerides would be expected to be nutritionally acceptable. In 

 fact, Cox'^i- reported in 1933 that, in feeding tests with rats, the adminis- 

 tration of triacetin at a level of 55% of the diet resulted in no deleterious 

 effects, and in fact permitted better growth than did other fatty acid esters 

 tested. Deuel and Hallman-^^ found that triacetin was absorbed more 

 rapidly from the gastrointestinal tract in three hours than was any other 



«8 T. L. Ward, A. T. Gros, and R. O. Feuge, /. Am. Oil Chemists' Soc, 32, .31G-318 

 (1955). 



^i« F. H. Mattson, F. J. Baur, and L. W. Beck, Federation Proc, 14, 443 (1955). 

 ^11 A. M. Ambrose and D. J. Robbins, /. Nutrition, 58, 113-124 (1956). 

 "2 W. M. Co.x, Jr., J. Biol. Chcin., 103, 777-790 (1933). 



