Specific molecular and colloidal structures of milk fat affecting lipolysis, absorption and postprandial lipemia

In milk fat, fatty acids arc located at specific positions on the triacylglycerol backbone. The sn-2 position contains most saturated long-chain fatty acids, while the sn-3 position contains short-chain fatty acids. Moreover, these triacylglycerols are structured as milk fat globules surrounded by their native membrane containing phospholipids. This native structure can be modified by the dairy processes to generate various possible colloidal structures with milk fat. The structure of triacylglycerols and the milk fat ultrastructure can impact on fatty acid digestion and absorption, which has a potential effect on cardiovascular risk factors linked to postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. The review points out the impact of the triacylglycerol structure and the ultrastructure of milk fat on these risk factors.