olestra

Olestra is a non-absorbable fat substitute, specifically a sucrose polyester, originally developed by Procter & Gamble as a zero-calorie replacement for dietary fats in snack foods. In the context of environmental toxicology and clinical medicine, it is being investigated by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center as a therapeutic intervention to reduce the body burden of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE). Its mechanism of action relies on its highly lipophilic nature and complete lack of absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Olestra acts as a lipophilic trap, solubilizing fat-soluble toxins within the intestinal lumen, thereby preventing their reabsorption through enterohepatic circulation and significantly enhancing their fecal excretion. A clinical trial conducted in Anniston, Alabama, demonstrated that daily consumption of olestra-containing potato chips resulted in an eight-fold increase in the elimination rate of PCBs in individuals with elevated exposure levels.

Brand names

Olean

Other names

sucrose polyestersucrose fatty acid esters