# Solvent Fractionation Improves the Functional Properties of Sheep Rump Fat: Effects of Different Lipid Fractions on Lipid Metabolism and Gut Health in Mice

## TL;DR

Solvent fractionation of sheep fat produces two lipid fractions with different effects on mouse metabolism and gut health.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates how solvent fractionation can modulate sheep fat properties to influence lipid metabolism and gut health.

## Key findings

- HSO, rich in saturated fatty acids, caused obesity, dyslipidemia, and colonic inflammation in mice.
- LSO, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, promoted fatty acid oxidation and maintained gut microbial balance.
- LSO increased production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate and propionate.

## Abstract

To enhance the nutritional value of sheep fat, high-melting-point solid fat (HSO) and low-melting-point liquid oil (LSO) were prepared from Altay sheep rump fat via solvent fractionation. The effects of HSO and LSO on lipid metabolism and intestinal health were evaluated in a mouse model. Results showed that HSO, rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA), induced obesity, dyslipidemia, and colonic inflammation in mice. These adverse effects were associated with the upregulation of hepatic lipid synthesis genes such as Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and Fatty acid synthase (FAS), as well as increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the colon. In contrast, LSO, which was predominantly composed of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), did not cause significant metabolic disorders. Instead, it promoted the upregulation of fatty acid oxidation-related genes such as Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and Acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (Acox1), helped maintain intestinal microbial balance, and enhanced the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate and propionate. In conclusion, solvent fractionation effectively modulates the fatty acid composition of sheep fat, thereby influencing lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses through the regulation of key gene expression and modulation of the gut microenvironment.