Metabolism of Naturally Occurring and 14C-Labeled Triglycerides in the Sheep

Abstract

The relationship between dietary fat and body fat composition of sheep has been studied in detail. However, little is known about the digestion and absorption of lipids in the ruminant intestine. Reiser and Reddy (1956) and Shorland et al. (1957) reported that dietary unsaturated fatty acids are extensively hydrogenated by ruminal bacteria in sheep. Garton, Lough and Vioque (1961) found that there was a difference in the degree of hydrolysis in vitro of linseed oil, olive oil and cocoa butter. Wood et al. (1963) observed that 14C-1-linoleic acid was hydrogenated to the extent of 45% stearic, 33 to 50% oleic and elaidic acids. Unidentified acids accounted for 5 to 17 % of the recovered dose. Varnell, Rice and Miller (1965) found that there was a noticeable increase in unsaturation of lipid from the intestinal contents as compared to ruminal lipid. Leat (1965) reported that this unsaturation may originate from bile secretions into the lumen of the intestine.