Aims: To describe the effect of two food emulsifiers, lecithin (E322) and citric acid esters of mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids (E472c), on the intestinal absorption of lipids.
Methods: The experiment was conducted on 24 male Wistar rats randomly assigned in three groups. For two groups of six rats, 30% of the lipid intake was replaced with lecithin (L) or citric acid ester of mono and diglycerides, (E); the remaining 12 rats were the control group (C). Diet and fecal fat analysis was used to determine the apparent lipid absorption (ALA) and fatty acids.
Results: ALA was significantly lower in the group E than in the groups C and L (p < 0.001). ALA of long saturated chain fatty acids decreased while the length of the carbon chains increased, and this decrease was higher in the group E.
Conclusion: E472c emulsifier decreased the intestinal absorption of lipids.
Keywords: Citric acid ester; emulsifiers; fatty acid; intestinal absorption; lecithin ester; lipids; rat.