Enrichment of palm olein with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids by enzymatic acidolysis

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) such as docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (ARA) acids have great benefits for the development and maintenance of human brain functions. The production of structured lipid (SL) by acidolysis of palm olein with a free fatty acid mixture obtained from DHASCO® and ARASCO®, catalyzed by Novozym 435® in hexane was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Three independent factors chosen were substrate mole ratio of total free fatty acids to palm olein (6-18 mol/mol), reaction temperature (55-65 °C), and reaction time (12-24 h). Good quadratic models were obtained for the incorporation of DHA + ARA (response 1) and their incorporation at the sn-2 position (response 2) by multiple regression and backward elimination. The models were verified by carrying out acidolysis reaction at several random combinations of the independent factors. The optimal condition generated from the models resulted in 25.25 g/100 g total incorporation of DHA + ARA and 17.20 g/100 g DHA + ARA incorporation at the sn-2 position. The fatty acid composition of SL was comparable to that of human milk fat. The SL produced in this study has potential for use in infant formulas as well as in nutraceutical applications for pregnant women.

► Palm olein was enriched with docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (ARA) acids. ► DHA and ARA were obtained through urea complexation of single cell oils. ► This structured lipid (SL) was produced by enzymatic acidolysis. ► SL has similar fatty acid profile as human milk fat but higher DHA and ARA.