Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Bioavailability in Humans after Oral Intake of DHA-Containing Triacylglycerol or the Structured Phospholipid AceDoPC(®)

AceDoPC(®) is a structured glycerophospholipid that targets the brain with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and is neuroprotective in the experimental ischemic stroke. AceDoPC(®) is a stabilized form of the physiological 2-DHA-LysoPC with an acetyl group at the sn1 position; preventing the migration of DHA from the sn2 to sn1 position. In this study we aimed to know the bioavailability of (13)C-labeled DHA after oral intake of a single dose of (13)C-AceDoPC(®), in comparison with (13)C-DHA in triglycerides (TAG), using gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) to assess the (13)C enrichment of DHA-containing lipids. (13)C-DHA enrichment in plasma phospholipids was significantly higher after intake of AceDoPC(®) compared with TAG-DHA, peaking after 24 h in both cases. In red cells, (13)C-DHA enrichment in choline phospholipids was comparable from both sources of DHA, with a maximum after 72 h, whereas the (13)C-DHA enrichment in ethanolamine phospholipids was higher from AceDoPC(®) compared to TAG-DHA, and continued to increase after 144 h. Overall, our study indicates that DHA from AceDoPC(®) is more efficient than from TAG-DHA for a sustained accumulation in red cell ethanolamine phospholipids, which has been associated with increased brain accretion.