Digestibility of cocoa butter and corn oil in human subjects: a preliminary study

Abstract

The comparative absorption of cocoa butter (25.5% C16:0, 34.4% C18:0, 34.4% C18:1, 3.4% C18:2) and corn oil (11.4% C16:0, 2.0% C18:0, 26.4% C18:1, 60.0% C18:2) was assessed in six healthy male subjects. During 3-d experimental diet periods, free-living subjects consumed either cocoa butter or corn oil as virtually the sole source of dietary fat, provided at 40% of the total energy intake in the form of specially formulated cookies. Fat absorption was determined by quantifying total fecal lipid excretion over the 3-d period. Total fecal lipid and fecal fatty acids were determined. The percentage of fat excreted was significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.001) when subjects consumed the cocoa butter (10.8 +/- 3.2%) vs the corn oil (3.5 +/- 1.0%) diet. These results indicate that the digestibility of cocoa butter is significantly less than corn oil and may explain, in part, previous reports of a neutral effect of dietary cocoa butter on plasma cholesterol concentrations.

Digestibility of cocoa butter from chocolate in humans: a comparison with corn-oil

“…Thus unlike in the rat, the digestibility of cocoa butter in humans is similar to that of a well-absorbed fat (corn oil), and its metabolisable energy value is hence similar to that of other fats (37 kJag). The results of this study, and those of previous studies with much larger amounts of cocoa butter (80 ± 130 gad) (Denke & Grundy, 1991;Mitchell et al, 1989;Mitchell et al, 1990), therefore suggest that cocoa butter both at normal or high doses, in the form of confectioneries or as the main source of dietary fat, has a high digestibility in man, and cannot be considered to be a low calorie fat.…”

“…In contrast, human studies have reported cocoa butter to be relatively well absorbed (89 ± 94 % digestibility) (Denke & Grundy, 1991;Mitchell et al, 1989;Mitchell et al, 1990). These human studies, however, do not re¯ect a normal consumption of cocoa butter since excessive quantities of cocoa butter (80 ± 130 gad) were consumed as virtually the sole source of dietary fat.…”

Triacylglycerol structure and interesterification of palmitic and stearic acid-rich fats: an overview and implications for cardiovascular disease

“…In contrast to the animal studies, most human studies have reported cocoa butter to be well absorbed (33,34,46,47) . Shahkhalili et al (48) reported that following cocoa butter or maize oil (31 g/d) fed to male subjects for 2 weeks, there was no difference in the faecal fat excretion (mean 4·55 g/d) and digestibility relative to maize oil (99 %), although the proportion of stearic acid in the faeces during the cocoa butter period (1·9 g/d) was higher than during the maize oil period (41 v. 27 % respectively), but was compensated for by a decrease in the proportion of other faecal fatty acids (48) .…”

Influence of triacylglycerol structure of stearic acid-rich fats on postprandial lipaemia

“…However, more recent human studies have reported that 18 : 0-rich fats are generally well absorbed (>90%), especially when fed with other dietary fats; for example, cocoa butter is relatively well absorbed, with digestibility values of 89-99% (Mitchell et al 1989;Denke & Grundy, 1991;Shahkhalili et al 2000). More variable results have, however, been obtained with randomised fats rich in 18: 0.…”