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Literature Review Special Issue Palm Oil in Health and Technology
Physiological mechanisms of palm oil triglyceride stereospecificity on postprandial lipid metabolism: a review
Loso Judijanto
Received: June 10, 2026 | Published: July 2, 2026
Citation: Judijanto L. Physiological mechanisms of palm oil triglyceride stereospecificity on postprandial lipid metabolism: a review. Open Access J Sci. 2025;9(1):343-352. DOI: 10.15406/oajs.2025.9.00318
Abstract
The role of dietary fat structure in modulating lipid metabolism has gained increasing attention, particularly regarding how triglyceride configuration influences postprandial responses. Palm oil, characterized by a distinctive stereospecific arrangement of fatty acids, provides a relevant model for examining these mechanisms. This study systematically evaluates the physiological mechanisms associated with triglyceride stereospecificity in palm oil and its influence on postprandial lipid metabolism through a qualitative synthesis of peer-reviewed international publications. The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted using a transparent PRISMA-guided process. Data collection was conducted exclusively through Scopus using sequential keyword optimization, followed by screening by publication year (2021-2026), English language, and open access/open archive availability; 41 eligible studies were included. Evidence was synthesized thematically across stereospecific fatty acid distribution, enzymatic digestion kinetics, lipid absorption and intestinal processing, chylomicron formation, comparative postprandial responses, and sources of variability. Overall, the reviewed evidence suggests that palm oil triglyceride structure may contribute to efficient digestion, absorption, and postprandial lipid transport through established physiological pathways. However, these interpretations should be read as qualitative and descriptive rather than as pooled effect estimates, because study designs, models, populations, and measured outcomes were heterogeneous. In conclusion, triglyceride stereospecificity appears to contribute to coordinated postprandial lipid metabolism within normal physiological ranges, while stronger confirmation will require standardized human studies and longer-term outcomes across diverse populations.
Keywords: palm oil, triglyceride stereospecificity, postprandial lipid metabolism, lipid digestion, chylomicron formation
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