Effects of the Short-Chain Triglyceride Triacetin on Intestinal Mucosa and Metabolic Substrates in Rats*

ABSTRACT. Diets containing either triacetin (the water-soluble triglyceride of acetate) or long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) were fed to rats to determine the effects on intestinal mucosa cells and plasma substrates. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of three diets, a control diet containing 5 % of energy as LCTs or one of two experimental diets that contained 30 % of energy as lipid. The lipid component of the two experimental diets was either 100 % LCTs or 95 % triacetin/5 % LCTs. Plasma lactate, glucose, and total ketone body concentrations were not significantly different among dietary treatment groups. Compared with animals fed LCTs and control diet, plasma pyruvate and free fatty acid concentrations were decreased in animals fed triacetin. In contrast, plasma triglyceride concentrations were elevated in animals fed triacetin compared with other groups