ABSTRACT
I n t ro d u c t i o n Compared with triacylglycerol (TAG) having a similar fatty acid composition, 1,3diacylglycerol (DAG) reduces postprandial hyperlipidemia (1-3), and the long-term intake of DAG suppresses the accumulation of body fat in humans and animals (4-7). These changes in lipid metabolism after ingestion of DAG may be a direct or indirect result of the influence of a difference in small intestinal metabolism caused by the structural characteristics of DAG (5,8). This chapter reviews insights into the activation of the small intestinal and hepatic lipid metabolism, and enhancement of wholebody energy expenditure, by ingestion of DAG.
