The influence of low and high planes of nutrition on the composition and synthesis of fat in the pig

Abstract

The component acids of a series of depot (back) fats from pigs fed on different planes of nutrition were detd. On a restricted diet the deposition of fat is not only slower, but the fat produced is softer, owing to increase in the small proportions of linoleic acid present, together with some increase in the proportion of oleic acid. Comparison of the amts. of each component fat acid in the diets with those in the body fats of the animals shows substantial synthesis of glycerides of palmitic, oleic and stearic acids, in the average proportion of 1 mol. palmitic to 1.9 mol. C18 acids. The minor components hexadecenoic and (possibly) myristic acid may also be mainly formed by synthesis, but linoleic and unsaturated C20-22 acids in the depots are derived only from ingested fats.