Palmitic, oleic, and butyric acid esters of cetyl alcohol were fed to mature rats. Cetyl palmitate was quantitatively excreted in the feces and produced no physiologic aberration. While cetyl oleate was 75% absorbable, it was of little value as an energy source and was partially excreted through the skin. Feeding of cetyl butyrate also induced seborrhea. Data on free fatty acids in gastrointestinal contents and on the specificity of seborrheic lipids indicate that cetyl esters are largely absorbed without hydrolysis, if the fatty acid moiety is readily absorbable, and excreted by way of the skin without modification.
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Calloway et al. (1959) studied this question.
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