Further investigations into the specific distribution of fatty acids in triglycerides of vegetable oils

Abstract

37 samples of commercial and laboratory extracted vegetable oils, and 3 indirectly-esterified oils (synthesised in the laboratory from their components) were examined for their fatty acid distribution by pancreatic lipase analysis. While saturated acids C 16:0 and C 18:0 were rarely, and C>20 never found in position 2, C 18:1 and C 18:2 were preferentially present in this position, with mainly C 18:1 in grape seed, olive and corn oil, mainly C 18:2 in groundnut, soybean and sunflower oil, and about equal proportions of C 18:1 and C 18:2 in sesame, rapeseed and safflower oil. C 18:3 was occasionally present. In indirectly-esterified oils, the distribution followed a statistical pattern, with fatty acids occupying position 2 in relation to their proportion in the triglycerides. The distribution was affected by genetic make-up, with distribution of canbra oil (erucic acid-free rapeseed oil) varying from that of rapeseed oil, and that of the low linoleic acid safflower variety UC-1 varying from other safflower oil. Area of production and method of oil extraction had no effect.