Diacylglycerol: Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of an Anti-Obesity Agent

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Vol. 13; no. 11; pp. 1864 - 1876
• Main Authors: Rudkowska, Iwona, Roynette, Catherine E, Demonty, Isabelle, Vanstone, Catherine A, Jew, Stephanie, Jones, Peter J. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2005
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Anti-Obesity Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Obesity Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Obesity Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Obesity Agents - toxicity; beta-oxidation; blood; blood lipids; body composition; Body Composition - drug effects; body weight; chylomicrons; diacylglycerol; diacylglycerols; dietary fat; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - adverse effects; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - pharmacology; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - therapeutic use; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - toxicity; Diglycerides; Diglycerides - adverse effects; Diglycerides - pharmacology; Diglycerides - therapeutic use; Diglycerides - toxicity; drug effects; drug therapy; Female; Humans; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Male; mechanism of action; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; pharmacology; physiopathology; serum triacylglycerol; therapeutic use; toxicity; Treatment Outcome; triacylglycerols; weight control; weight loss; β‐oxidation
• ISSN: 1071-7323; 1930-7381; 1550-8528; 1930-739X
• DOI: 10.1038/oby.2005.229

Obesity is at the forefront of global health issues and directly contributes to many chronic illnesses. Several dietary components show promise in the treatment of obesity, one of which is oil rich in diacylglycerols (DAGs). Present objectives are to examine scientific knowledge concerning DAG to assess evidence supporting the effects on substrate oxidation rates, body weight and fat mass, and blood lipids, and to assess safety, as well as elucidate potential mechanisms of action. DAG can be synthesized by an enzymatic process to produce mainly 1,3-isoform DAG. This 1,3-DAG oil is believed to have the ability to increase {szligbeta}-oxidation, to enhance body weight loss, to suppress body fat accumulation, and to lower serum triacylglycerol levels postprandially. While certain animal and human studies indicate that consumption of 1,3-DAG has positive physiological effects, others report no effect. The mechanisms of action of DAG are suggested to decrease the resynthesis of chylomicrons as well as shunting them directly to the liver through the portal vein, where they are oxidized. This increased fat oxidation may influence control of food intake by increasing satiety. Further study into the precise mechanism is required to understand its effects. Safety studies show no risks in consuming a diet rich in DAG oil. Overall, consumption of oils with higher amounts of DAG, specifically 1,3-DAG, may be useful in the battle against obesity.