The effect of a Tropaeolum speciosum oil supplement on the nervonic acid content of sphingomyelin in rat tissues.

ABSTRACT

The lipids of Tropaeolum speciosum (T. speciosum) are a rich source of naturally occurring nervonic acid (241n-9). We report that adding a T. speciosum oil supplement to a semi-purified diet significantly increased the amount of 241n-9 in liver and heart, but not brain, sphingomyelin (SM) of young rats. The bioavailability of 241n-9 from the lipids of T. speciosum was similar to that of 241n-9 ethyl ester in this rat bioassay.