Triglyceride fatty-acid chain reduction

Fatty acids derived from animal and vegetable sources generally contain an even number of carbon atoms siace they are biochemically derived by condensation of two carbon units through acetyl or malonyl coenzyme A. However, odd-numbered and branched fatty acid chains are observed ia small concentrations ia natural triglycerides, particularly mminant animal fats through propionyl and methylmalonyl coenzyme respectively. The glycerol backbone is derived by biospeciftc reduction of dihydroxyacetone. 

A process with potential practical applicability is the hydrogenation of edible oils. Reduction of multiply unsaturated triglycerides with hydrogen over Ni-based catalysts is frequently used to gain autoxidative stability of edible oils. According to the Polanyi-Horiuti mechanism, multiple 1,2 or 1,4 diadsorption of the fatty acid tail with exclusively c/s-configuration around the double bonds causes cis-trans isomerisation, whilst the number of double bonds is being reduced. The trans-fatty acid chains have adverse effects on the human metabolism and must be minimized. 

A molecular variation of plasma membrane has been reported by Puccia et al. Reduction of total lipids (XL) content and significant variations of triglyceride (TG) and phospholipids (PL) fractions were observed as a consequence of exposure of C. intestinalis ovaries to TBTCl solutions. In particular, an evident TG decrease and a PL increase were observed, which probably provoked an increment in membrane fluidity, because of the high concentration of long chain fatty acids and, as a consequence, PL. This could be a cell-adaptive standing mechanism toward the pollutants, as observed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Also the increase in the content of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUPA), important in the synthesis of compounds such as prostaglandin which are present in the ovary in a stress situation, was probably a consequence of a defense mechanism to the stress provoked by the presence of TBTCl. 

The treatment of TCHAD deficiency is similar to that of severe VLCAD deficiency. Strict treatment is necessary in order to reduce the development of long-term complications such as retinal dystrophy. Treatment consists of avoidance of fasting, severe reduction of dietary fat, and provision of medium-chain triglycerides, while gnard-ing for sufficient amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular docosahexaenoic add (DHA). Fat restriction and particularly sufQdent MCT oil provision are associated with reduced concentrations of 3-hydroxyacylcamitines. 

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