| Abstract: | There is growing scientific evidence that consumption of n‐3 very long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 VLC‐PUFA) helps in brain and eye development, and protects against a range of common degenerative diseases. This has provided the impetus to the scientists to develop new and renewable sources for these important fatty acids so that the food industry is able to produce and market products fortified with n‐3 VLC‐PUFA. The bioactive efficacy and stability of food products containing n‐3 VLC‐PUFA may be determined not only by the amount of n‐3 VLC‐PUFA present but also by the positional distribution of these acids within the triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules (regiopurity). Studies of the effects of positional distribution on the functionality of n‐3 VLC‐PUFA containing oils have been hampered by a general lack of pure TAG regioisomers for experimentation. This paper reviews methods that have been used for the synthesis of TAG regioisomers containing n‐3 VLC‐PUFA, with special reference to those in which one n‐3 VLC‐PUFA occurs in combination with two long‐chain saturated acids. |
