STRUCTURED LIPID CONTAINING BEHENIC ACID VERSUS ORLISTAT FOR WEIGHT LOSS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN MICE

Background: Exploring dietary alternatives that can help obese patients lose weight and improve metabolic health, we developed a structured lipid rich in behenic acid (SLBeh). The SLBeh was obtained by enzymatic interesterification in a mixture of soy oil, olive oil and fully hydrogenated crambe oil resulting in a final product with good technological characteristics, and with the ability to prevent weight gain and the postprandial inflammation in mice. In this study, we compared the ability of the SLBeh to that of orlistat to induce weight loss in obese mice. Methods: Obese mice were fed on a high-fat diet formulated with 50% or 100% SLBeh or treated with orlistat. Body composition, glucose and lipid homeostasis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) markers, and feces analysis were assessed. In addition, anin vitro lipase inhibition characterization was performed. Results: The SLBeh inhibits lipase partially in comparison with that by orlistat. Diet with the SLBeh was not able to induce weight loss. However, mice had improvements in glucose blood level control; reductions in NAFLD markers; low levels of serum endotoxin; and alterations in microbiota composition. Conclusions: Despite the partial inhibition of lipase, the SLBeh could be an interesting lipid alternative in the search for healthier food.