Journal Name:
J. Am. Coll. Nutr.
Article Title:
Effects of canola oil on serum lipids in humans.
Date Written:
1991
Volume:
10
Number:
3
Page:
228
Author(s):
Bierenbaum, M. L.; Reichstein, R. P.; Watkins, T. R.; Maginnis, W. P.; Geller, M.
Article:
This is one of the first studies, conducted in 1991, to investigate whether canola oil with high oleic fatty acid (mono-unsaturated fatty acid –MUFA) and moderate levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) could produce lipid changes equivalent to that of a low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet while not reducing the beneficial HDL-C level. A 4-month study using 30 ml/day of canola oil as the replacement of the edible oils in the usual diet was undertaken in 36 hypercholesterolemic and/or hypertriglyceridemic subjects. Serum low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased significantly from 173 ± 9.0 to 160 ± 10.0 mg/dl. Blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol, and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) did not change significantly even though the HDL subfractions did, with HDL2 /HDL3 increasing. Reduced BP and serum cholesterol were observed in an earlier smaller pilot study with canola oil by these researchers, but were not confirmed in this study. The slight reduction in total cholesterol persisted over the duration of the trial, but not at statistically significant levels. The lowered LDL-C was significant in a group 11% of whom were adult-onset diabetics. The finding of decreasing HDL2 levels with concomitant increasing HDL3 levels requires confirmation as protection against coronary disease has been related to high HDL2/HDL3 ratios. This observation has in fact not been reported consistently in follow-up research and could be the result here of the 40% fat diet consumed by this cohort. The LDL-C lowering observed in this study with canola oil consumption has subsequently been reported in numerous clinical trials.
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