Journal Name:
Arteroisclerosis and Thrombosis

Article Title:
Effects of a monounsaturated rapeseed oil and a polyunsaturated sunflower oil diet on lipoprotein levels in humans

Date Written:
1992

Volume:
12

Number:

Page:
50

Author(s):
Valsta, L.; Jauhiainen, M.; Aro, A.; Katan, M.; Mutanen, M.

Article:
This study was conducted to compare the effects on the lipid composition of lipoproteins in healthy humans of MUFA from low erucic acid rapeseed oil - CO versus LA from sunflower oil (SO). Subjects were 59 healthy women and men (age 18-65 years) with serum cholesterol levels lower than 7.4 mmol/L. During the first 2 weeks, subjects consumed a diet high in SFA. The experimental trials comprised two 25 day periods in which the test diets were fed in a crossover randomized design. CO contributed 63% of the MUFA in the CO diet and SO contributed 87% of the PUFA in the SO diet. The baseline diet was comprised of 15% of energy as protein, 50% as carbohydrate, 36% as fat with 19% as SFA, 11% as MUFAs and 4% as PUFAs. The CO and SO contained similar levels of protein, carbohydrate and fat. SFA represented 13% of energy in both test diets while MUFA contributed 16% and 10%, and PUFA represented 8% and 13%, in the CO and SO diets, respectively. ALA was higher in the CO (2.1% of energy) than in the SO diet (0.4% of energy). The oils were incorporated into mixed whole food diets.

Both test diets significantly reduced TC and LDL-C from baseline. CO was more effective in this regard (TC: -15% versus 12% and LDL-C: 23% versus 17%) and a significant difference in the test diets was noted. VLDL and TGs were lower following the SO diet in comparison with the CO diet. HDL-C levels did not change with either test diet although the HDL2 cholesterol fraction was lower following the SO than the CO diet. As a result, the CO diet resulted in a more favorable ratio of HDL2:LDL-C (0.43) in comparison to 0.39 following the SO diet and an apoA1:apoB ratio of 3.0 versus 2.4.

The authors concluded that the substitution of dietary SFA by CO positively affects LDL metabolism and that reductions in TC are attributed primarily to decreases in LDL-C. Although both diets effectively lowered TC, the CO diet produced a more desirable effect than the SO on serum ratios of HDL2:LDL-C and apoA1:apoB. The authors speculated that both the ALA and the OA content of the CO may contribute to these effects., , ,

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