Food Lipids: Chemistry, Nutrition, and Biotechnology

Table 8 Some Nutritional Uses of Nondigestible
Lipid-Based Fat Substitutes
Replace saturated fat in the diet
Contribute reduced to zero calories to the diet
Reduce total fat intake in the diet
Reduce total cholesterol level
Reduce serum and plasma triacylglycerol levels
Reduce LDL-cholesterol level
Maintain ideal body weight or promote weight loss
Maintain HDL-cholesterol level
Reduce coronary heart disease risk factors
Reduce risk to certain kinds of cancer
addition of saturated fatty acids and their salts (59). It was suggested that oil loss
can also be prevented by controlling the rheology (viscosity) and stiffness of carbohydrate
polyesters by simply adjusting the fatty acid composition of the fats and
oils used in their synthesis (11,19,51,61). Other gastrointestinal symptoms due to
consumption of olestra are flatulence, soft stools, fecal urgency, diarrhea, and increased
bowel movements (5,52,53). Indeed, it was recommended that soft stool can
be prevented by using olestra with semisolid consistency or by increasing the viscosity
of the olestra or product (51).
The most recently publicized problems with consuming olestra are its effects
on serum carotenoid (antioxidant vitamin) levels, fat-soluble vitamins, gastrointestinal
tract (oil loss, loose stools), and oral contraceptives or lipophilic drugs (Table
9). However, the role of carotenoids in health is still under investigation and not
fully understood. Also not known is the effect of high levels of olestra consumption
on consumers who may indulge in an effort to reduce or control their weight. To
protect consumers, the FDA requires that products containing olestra bear labels (51)
stating: ‘‘This Product Contains Olestra. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and
loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients.
Table 9 Limitations to Olestra Consumption
Anal leakage or ‘‘oil loss’’ or fecal urgency
Decrease or loss of vitamins E and A from other foods
(FDA-recommended compensation, Ref. 51) a
Soft stool
Diarrhea
Increased bowel movement
Loss of carotenoids (Ref. 62); 60% decrease in �-carotene
(supplementation under debate)
May affect drug absorption (coumarin, oral contraceptives—
magnitude of effect small)
Inflammatory bowel disease
a FDA recommendations informing the consumer, through labeling, of
some of these limitations, are given in Ref. 51.
Copyright 2002 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.