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

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