Diacylglycerol oil

Diacylglycerol oil (DAG oil) is a cooking oil in which the ratio of triglycerides (TAGs) to diacylglycerols (DAGs) is shifted to contain mostly DAG, unlike conventional cooking oils, which are rich in TAG. Vegetable DAG oil, for example, contains 80% DAG[1] and is used as a 1:1 replacement for liquid vegetable oils in all applications.[2]

How it works

DAGs and TAGs are natural components in all vegetable oils. Through an enzymatic process, the DAG content of a combination of soy and canola oils is significantly increased. Unlike TAG, which is stored as body fat, DAG is immediately burned as energy. With DAG-rich oil containing more than 80% DAG, less of the oil is stored as body fat than with traditional oils, which are rich in TAG. Excess calories consumed by the body are converted into fat and stored, regardless if it is consumed as DAG or TAG.

FDA designation

DAG oil was designated as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by an outside panel of scientific experts, and their conclusion has been reviewed and accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This GRAS determination is for use in vegetable oil spreads and home cooking oil. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved DAG oil to manage serum triglycerides after a meal, which leads to less build-up of body fat.

Side effects

Because DAG oil is digested the same way as conventional vegetable oils, the potential side effects are no different than those of conventional oil. In addition, studies with animals and human subjects have shown no adverse effects from single-dose or long-term consumption of DAG-rich oil. It has also been found that fat-soluble vitamins' status is not affected by the consumption of DAG-rich oil.[3]

Research

Studies indicate that DAG oil has numerous health benefits, including reducing post-meal blood triglyceride levels.[4][5][6] Clinical studies in Japan have also shown that DAG oil may increase overall metabolism, helping reduce the amount of fat already stored in the body.[7][8][9]

Sales suspended voluntarily

On September 16, 2009, Kao Corporation, maker of Econa Cooking Oil has voluntarily suspended sales of products containing DAG oil in Japan, which include cooking oil, mayonnaise, salad dressing, and pet food products. [10] The company is cited as considering suspending the sales of Enova Brand Oil sold in North America. [11] On the same day, Hagoromo Foods, maker of Sea Chicken brand of canned tuna, and Satonoyuki, maker of tofu products, have voluntarily suspended number of products made with Econa Cooking Oil sold in Japan. [12] [13]

In its press release announcing the temporally suspension of Econa line of products, Kao cites questions raised by European researchers on the uncertain health effect of glycidyl fatty acid esters (GE). It states that GE contained in the products are introduced as by-product of deodorization process, but maintains that the main ingredient DAG (Diacylglycerol) is proven safe, and says it plans to resume sale after reducing the amount of GE introduced in its production method. [14]

References
  1. 75-3 Nutritional benefits of Enova oil Archived 2007-09-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Novel Food Information: Vegetable Diacylglycerol Oil
  3. H. Watanabe et al. Fat-soluble vitamin status is not affected by diacylglycerol consumption. Ann Nutr Metab. 2001; 45: 259-264
  4. H. Taguchi et al. Double-blind controlled study on the effects of dietary diacylglycerol on post-prandial serum and chylomicron triacylglycerol responses in healthy humans. J Am Col Nutr. 2000; 19: 789-796
  5. N. Tada et al. Dynamics of post-prandial remnant-like lipoprotein particles in serum after loading of diacylglycerols. Clin Chim Acta. 2001; 311: 109-117
  6. K. Yamamoto et al. Long-term ingestion of dietary diacylglycerol lowers serum triacylglycerol in type II diabetic patients with hypertriglyceridemia. J Nutr. 2001; 131: 3204-3207
  7. KC Maki et al. Consumption of diacylglycerol oil as part of a mildly reduced-energy diet enhances loss of body weight and fat compared with a triacylglycerol control oil. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76:1230-1236
  8. T. Murase et al. Anti-obesity effect of dietary diacylglycerol in C57BL/6J mice: dietary diacylglycerol stimulates intestinal lipid metabolism. J Lipid Res. 2002; 43:1312-1319
  9. T. Nagao et al. Dietary diacylglycerol suppresses accumulation of body fat compared to triacylglycerol in men in a double-blind controlled trial. J Nutr. 2000;130:792-797
  10. "Kao to Temporarily Refrain from Selling Econa Products". Kao Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  11. "Kao: To Temporarily Stop Sales Of Some Cooking Oil Products". Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  12. "製品の販売自粛・出荷停止について". Hagoromo Foods Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  13. "花王（株）エコナ食用油の原料供給中止に伴う弊社商品の販売休止について" (PDF). Satonoyuki Co., Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  14. "エコナ関連製品の一時販売自粛について". Kao Corporation. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
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