Both the type and amount of triglycerides influence the bioavailability of fat-soluble vitamins in mice

Abstract

We investigated whether low or high amount of either medium-chain triglycerides (tricaprylin, TC) or long-chain triglycerides (triolein, TO) could modulate fat-soluble vitamin bioavailability in mice. Vitamin A postprandial response was up to 87.6±3.2% higher (p<0.0001) with low amount of TC compared to high amount of either TC or TO. Vitamin D response remained unaffected. Vitamin E and K responses were both favored by high amount of TO compared to other conditions (up to 283.9±24.0%, p<0.0001 and 163.8±34.7%, p=0.033, respectively). Vitamin concentration in the intestine reflected the modulations observed in plasma for vitamins A, E and K, but vitamin D concentration was significantly higher with high compared to low amount of TC (796.9±80.8 vs. 457.1±46.3 pmol/g, p=0.0340). Overall, vitamin A bioavailability was favored by low amount of TC, while vitamin E and K bioavailability was favored by high amount of TO. Vitamin D bioavailability was unaffected by triglyceride type and amount.