Lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of tripalmitin with hazelnut oil fatty acids and stearic acid to produce human milk fat substitutes

Structured lipids (SLs) containing palmitic, oleic, stearic, and linoleic acids, resembling human milk fat (HMF), were synthesized by enzymatic acidolysis reactions between tripalmitin, hazelnut oil fatty acids, and stearic acid. Commercially immobilized sn-1,3-specific lipase, Lipozyme RM IM, obtained from Rhizomucor miehei was used as the biocatalyst for the enzymatic acidolysis reactions. The effects of substrate molar ratio, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the incorporation of stearic and oleic acids were investigated. The acidolysis reactions were performed by incubating 1:1.5:0.5, 1:3:0.75, 1:6:1, 1:9:1.25, and 1:12:1.5 substrate molar ratios of tripalmitin/hazelnut oil fatty acids/ stearic acid in 3 mL of n-hexane at 55, 60, and 65°C using 10% (total weight of substrates) of Lipozyme RM IM for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. The fatty acid composition of reaction products was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). The fatty acids at the sn-2 position were identified after pancreatic lipase hydrolysis and GLC analysis. The results showed that the highest C18:1 incorporation (47.1%) and highest C18:1/C16:0 ratio were obtained at 65°C and 24 h of incubation with the highest substrate molar ratio of 1:12:1.5. The highest incorporation of stearic acid was achieved at a 1:3: 0.75 substrate molar ratio at 60°C and 24 h. For both oleic and stearic acids, the incorporation level increased with reaction time. The SLs produced in this study have potential use in infant formulas.