Natascha Stroebinger

Citation

Thesis Title
The Effect of Dietary Calcium and Other Nutritionally Relevant Divalent Cations on Fatty Acid-Soap Formation

Read article at Massey Research Online:

The alarming rise in obesity has led to research investigating potential mechanisms to reduce fat absorption. The ability of calcium to form insoluble complexes with free fatty acids (FAs) (= Ca-FA soaps) has been suggested to limit the absorption of FAs from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). To investigate the presence of FA-soaps in the GIT an assay was developed to determine FA-soaps in faeces. In vivo studies were conducted to investigate an effect of increasing dietary calcium on fat digestibility and to determine the location where in the GIT FA-soap formation occurred. High calcium intake led to an increased excretion of FA-soaps, impairing the absorption of fat. FA-soaps appeared to form in the distal small intestine with an association to gastrointestinal pH. Miss Stroebinger's results contribute to the knowledge where FA-soap formation occurs and provide evidence that FA-soap formation can reduce fat absorption and thereby possibly contribute to weight loss.

Supervisors
Dr Sharon Henare
Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan