Digestibility of Individual Fatty Acids in the Rat

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Abstract
The digestibility of straight-chain saturated fatty acids from C4 to C22 and of mono-unsaturated fatty acids from C18 to C24 has been measured in the rat. Short-chain saturated fatty acids up to C10 were completely digested. From C10 to C18 the digestibility decreased progressively and very small amounts of the C18 and higher fatty acids were absorbed. The digestibilities of the mono-unsaturated fatty acids were approximately the same as those of saturated fatty acids with 6 less carbon atoms. These results do not support the concept of an inverse relationship between the digestibility of fatty acids and their melting points. Different methods of extracting fecal fat have been investigated and acidification of the feces with acetic acid to obtain fatty acids present as soaps appears to be preferable to acidification with hydrochloric or sulfuric acids.