glyceryl trierucate

Glyceryl trierucate (also known as trierucin) is a triglyceride ester of erucic acid, a 22-carbon monounsaturated fatty acid. It has been primarily investigated as a component of Lorenzo's oil—a 4:1 mixture of glyceryl trioleate and glyceryl trierucate—used in the experimental treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and progressive demyelination in the brain[1][2][3][4]. The mechanism by which glyceryl trierucate exerts its effect is believed to involve inhibition of elongation of very long-chain fatty acid 1 (ELOVL1), an enzyme responsible for VLCFA synthesis. This inhibition leads to reduced levels of saturated VLCFAs in plasma and tissues[6][8]. Glyceryl trierucate itself is not approved for human or veterinary use outside research settings[1].

Other names

trierucinglyceryl trierucate