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Diacylglycerol (DAG) May Be Able To Encourage Weight LossWhat Is Diacylglycerol (DAG) or Diacylglycerides ?Diacylglycerol is a type of lipid under investigation for its health effects. When you're eating fat or oil, you are actually eating a mixture of lipids called triacylglycerides, diacylglycerides and monoacylglycerides, as well as fatty acids and other nutrients. These can also be known as glycerol lipids because they all are made up of a glycerol molecule. Glycerol is a syrupy liquid which is the alcohol part of fat. Diacylglycerol is formed when two fatty acid molecules are attached to the glycerol at specific positions [2]. These fatty acids could include substances such as oleic or palmitic acid, depending on the type of oil or fat. Diacylglycerol oil can be manufactured from soybean, canola or corn oil. It contains fatty acids that can be found in other conventional oils such as oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. Olive oil also contains a small amount of diacylglycerols [1]. Can DAG Help In The Weight Loss Battle?Many experts feel that DAG and DAG oil can help in weight loss. The oil has been marketed in Japan and elsewhere as a health food for preventing postprandial increase in serum triglycerides and accumulation of fat deposits. [3] A weight loss study conducted in Japan and funded in part by the Kao corporation [4] completed a study with 131 obese men and women found that body weight loss was greater in subjects who consumed foods containing diacylglycerols as opposed to those who consumed triacylglycerols. Subjects ate muffins, crackers, soup, cookies and granola bars made with either diacylglycerides or triacylglycerides while still following a reduced calorie intake. The results of the research show that there were small but significant differences between the two groups. Mean body weight decreased 1.1% more than the group receiving products made with triacyglycerols and fat mass decreased by 3.3% more than the triacylglycerol group. Other studies have shown some interesting results which concur with those of this one.[5, 6] and show that DAG may be able to increase energy expenditure, fat oxidation and reduce appetite. Fat Tips 'N TricksMany avoid fats altogether in order to lower their cholesterol levels. According to the American Dietetics Association, cholesterol is a natural phenomena. The body uses cholesterol to manufacture estrogen, testosterone and bile. Most of the cholesterol is made by the body itself and is not absorbed directly from food. References:[1] Olive Oil Source [2] Lexicon of Lipid Nutrition [3] ADM and KAO Partnership to Market DAG Oil - News Article 2001 [4] Kevin C Maki, Michael H Davidson, Rikio Tsushima, Noboru Matsuo, Ichiro Tokimitsu, Denise M Umporowicz, Mary R Dicklin, Gregory S Foster, Kate A Ingram, Barbara D Anderson, Scott D Frost and Marjorie Bell Consumption of diacylglycerol oil as part of a reduced-energy diet enhances loss of body weight and fat in comparison with consumption of a triacylglycerol control oil American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 76, No. 6, 1230-1236, December 2002 Abstract [5] Tomonori Nagao, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Naohiro Goto, Kouji Onizawa, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Noboru Matsuo, Takuji Yasukawa, Rikio Tsushima, Hiroyuki Shimasaki and Hiroshige Itakura Dietary Diacylglycerol Suppresses Accumulation of Body Fat Compared to Triacylglycerol in Men in a Double-Blind Controlled Trial Journal of Nutrition. 2000;130:792-797 Abstract [6] Marleen MJW Kamphuis, David J Mela and Margriet S Westerterp-Plantenga Diacylglycerols affect substrate oxidation and appetite in humans American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 77, No. 5, 1133-1139, May 2003 Abstract Other ResourcesPenn State University Balance of Unsaturated Fatty Acids is Important to Cholesterol-Lowering Diet: Comparison of Mid-Oleic Sunflower Oil and Olive Oil on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Press Release. Diet & Fitness TipsIf you found this useful, get great diet recipes, fat burning exercises and other articles like this one in our diet & fitness newsletter. |
