Hydrolysis of long-chain, n-3 fatty acid enriched chylomicrons by cardiac lipoprotein lipase.

The hydrolysis of chylomicrons enriched in long-chain n-3 fatty acids by cardiac lipoprotein lipase was studied. In 60 min, 24.8% of the triacylglycerol fatty acids were released as free fatty acids. The fatty acids were hydrolyzed at different rates. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n-3) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5n-3) were released at rates significantly less than average. Stearic acid (18:0), 20:1n-9, and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) were released significantly faster than average. There was no relationship between the rate of release of a fatty acid and the number of carbons or the number of double bonds. Lipoprotein lipase selectively hydrolyzes the fatty acids of chylomicron triacylglycerols. This selectively will result in remnants that are relatively depleted in 18:0, 20:1, and 18:3 and relatively enriched in 20:5 and 22:6.