Abstract
Summary
Triglycerides, free fatty acids and methyl esters of fatty acids were compared for their effects on growth, feed conversion ratios, absorbability, serum polyun-saturated fatty acid and cholesterol levels, organ weights, carcass composition and liver and kidney histology when fed to young male rats. The livers from the animals fed free fatty acid and methyl esters of fatty acids showed evidence of cellular degeneration. Animals fed free fatty acids also showed some fatty infiltration. Kidneys from the animals fed methyl esters of fatty acids had numerous calculi. Neither the free fatty acids nor the preparations containing methyl esters of fatty acids were absorbed as well as the intact triglycerides. Rats fed the free fatty acids or the methyl esters of fatty acids required more feed per unit gain than did the animals fed the intact triglycerides. No differences were found in weight gains, organ weights, carcass composition or serum cholesterol levels. Serum polyunsaturated fatty acid levels were not changed by feeding fatty acids in the different forms. Corn oil did elevate the polyunsaturated acid levels in the serum above those observed in the lard-fed group of rats.
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