Synthesis of middle–long–middle structured intralipids by biological catalysis and the evaluation of intralipids’ protective effect on liver injury rats

Abstract Intralipids are widely used to provide energy and necessary fatty acids for the patients. The structure of lipids may affect their function. We developed a bio‐catalyzed route to prepare various intralipids and investigated the protective effect of intralipids against α‐naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) induced liver injury rats, further discussing the structure–function relationship. The middle–long–middle (MLM) structural intralipid was synthesized through alcoholysis‐esterification, and the influence factors were investigated. ANIT treatment caused liver injury, further making hepatocyte damage, and increasing related biochemical indexes, like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBIL). Especially, MLM‐based and structoglyceride (STG) intralipids worked better in the early stage, to reduce the AST, ALT, and TBIL (p < .05). MLM showed a comparative advantage over other intralipids to accelerate the reduction of ALT (1st day) and AST (3rd day). MLM intralipid might be a promising next‐generation intralipid than the current STG intralipid liver‐injury patients. The biological catalysis MLM‐based intralipids can make the maximum utilization of fatty acids for the liver regeneration, where middle‐chain fatty acid (MCFA) in sn‐1,3 position can be metabolized directly to provide energy and long‐chain fatty acid (LCFA) in sn‐2 position can be delivered effectively for cell membrane repairing.