Rapid in vivo hydrolysis of fatty acid ethyl esters, toxic nonoxidative ethanol metabolites

Mouris Saghir, Jens Werner, Michael Laposata

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), esterification products of fatty acids and ethanol, are in use as fatty acid supplements, but they also have been implicated as toxic mediators of ethanol ingestion. We hypothesized that hydrolysis of orally ingested FAEE occurs in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and in the blood to explain their apparent lack of toxicity. To study the in vivo inactivation of FAEE by hydrolysis to free fatty acids and ethanol, we assessed the hydrolysis of FAEE administered as an oil directly into the rat stomach and when injected within the core of low-density lipoprotein particles into the circulation of rats. Our studies demonstrate that FAEE are rapidly degraded to free fatty acids and ethanol in the GI tract at the level of the duodenum with limited hydrolysis in the stomach. In addition, FAEE are rapidly degraded in the circulation, with a half-life of only 58 s. Thus the degradation of FAEE in the GI tract and in the blood provides an explanation for the apparent lack of toxicity of orally ingested FAEE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)G184-G190
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
Volume273
Issue number1 36-1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1997
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alcohol
  • Free fatty acid
  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Pancreatitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Rapid in vivo hydrolysis of fatty acid ethyl esters, toxic nonoxidative ethanol metabolites'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this