ABSORBABILITY AND WEIGHT-GAIN BY MICE FED METHYL GLUCOSIDE FATTY-ACID POLYESTERS - POTENTIAL FAT SUBSTITUTES

Male mice (n = 27) were fed a control diet consisting of a fat free diet plus 11% peanut oil or two methyl glucoside polyester (MGP), experimental diets for 10 days. The experimental diets consisted of fat-free diet plus 11% of MGP, 100% oleate, or 90:10 stearate:oleate. Absorbability, percent recovery of the oils and fats, and percent mean body weight gain were determined. The mice consuming 100% oleate MGP and the mice consuming 90:10 stearate:oleate MGP lost more weight (- 10.1%) and (- 7.4%), respectively, than the mice consuming the control diet, P < 0.05. Subsequent fat analysis showed that the 100% oleate MGP were almost completely recovered from the feces, indicating close to zero absorbability, while the MGP (90:10 stearate:oleate) were partially absorbed at 66.8%. No anal leakage or death was observed. Methyl glucose fatty acid polyester may serve as a potential alternative fat substitute.