High-laurate canola oil in production of structured lipids

Structured lipids (SL) containing lauric acid and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA) were produced using high-laurate canola oil (Laurical 35) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, C22:5 n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3) as substrtaes. Laurical 35, containing 37% lauric acid and 34% oleic acid, was subjected to acidolysis reaction in the presence of enzyme catalysts from Mucor miehei, Pseudomonas sp., and Candida rugosa. The process variables for optimization of incorporation of LC PUFA into Laurical 35 were the amount of enzyme (2-6%), reaction temperature (35-55C) and incubation time (12-36 h). The maximum incorporation of EPA, DPA and DHA into Laurical 35 were 62.2, 50.8 and 34.1% under conditions (enzyme concentration 4.36-5.41%, temperature of 38.7-43.7C and reaction time of 23.9-44.7 h. Both LC PUFA and lauric acid were mainly esterified to the sn-1,3 positions of the modified oils. The modified oil was found to be less stable than the original oils because of its higher degree of unsaturation and removal of active antioxidants from the original oils. The resultant products containing both medium-chain fatty acid (C12:0) and LC PUFA may serve as nutraceutical and functional food ingredients.