Exposure of fatty acids after a single oral administration of sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) and sunflower oil in human adult subjects

Context: Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) is a potential oilseed crop because it is rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA) (omega-3 fatty acid). Objective: To evaluate the exposure of fatty acids after a single oral administration of sacha inchi or sunflower oil in healthy volunteers. Material and methods: Plasma fatty acids concentrations were assayed by Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector in 18 adult subjects. After fasting, blood samples were obtained at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24h after ingestion of 10 or 15ml of sacha inchi oil or sunflower oil. Results: The proportion ALA/linoleic acid was 1.37 in sacha inchi oil and 0.01 in sunflower oil. ALA, lauric acid, palmitic acid, linolelaidic acid, cis-8,11,14- eicosatrienoic acid, cis-13,16-docosadienoic acid and cis-4,7,10,13,16,19- docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels changed over time after sacha inchi oil ingestion but not with sunflower oil. The time at maximal concentration (tmax) for ALA was 2h after sacha inchi oil ingestion. No ALA in plasma was observed after sunflower oil consumption. The maximal concentration of ALA was 2.84±0.36mg/ml in women and 0.94±0.57mg/ml in men, p<0.05, whereas maximal concentration of DHA was 2.60±0.84mg/ml in women and 1.00±0.38mg/ml in men (p>0.05). There is a trend for higher plasma ALA levels with 15ml sacha inchi oil. After 2h of consumption, plasma delta triacylglycerol were reduced with sunflower oil but slightly increased with sacha inchi oil. A reduction in plasma delta triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein cholesterol was observed with both oils. Conclusion: Consumption of sacha inchi oil increased ALA and DHA in plasma.