Research continues to document and expand canola oil's
importance to human nutrition. Projects now underway are increasing
our knowledge of how canola can help to improve heart health and
manage problems like diabetes and obesity.
Projects underway
Canola and flax oils in modulation of
plasma lipids and other markers of heart disease risk
Effects of canola oil fatty acid
composition on insulin resistance and obesity
Effect of canola oil as part of a low
glycemic load diet on glucose control and coronary heart disease
risk factors in type 2 diabetes
Effects of canola oil on blood vessel
function in peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
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Canola and flax
oils in modulation of plasma lipids and other markers of heart
disease risk
(SC 1.1.1)
Objective: To address significant knowledge
gaps in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and
cardioprotective effects of dietary alpha linolenic acid (ALA)
consumption. This research will examine the health benefits of ALA
from consumption of diets rich in canola oil, novel MUFA and DHA
enriched canola oils, and flax oil versus diets containing typical
North American fats. Treatment oils will be examined for potential
influence on endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidation, body
composition and plasma lipoprotein characterization. Furthermore,
in an effort to elucidate the genetic factors that promote ALA
conversion to EPA/DHA and strengthen the role of ALA in
cardiovascular health, a major objective of this proposal is to
correlate common genetic variants in the FADS1 and FADS2 gene
cluster with ALA conversion to EPA/DHA and n-3 fatty acid
composition of serum phospholipids in response to consumption of
treatment oils.
Research team: Drs. Peter Jones and Todd
Rideout (University of Manitoba) - Project Leaders; Dr. David
Jenkins (University of Toronto); Dr. Benoit Lamarche (Laval
University); Drs. Penny-Kris-Etherton and Sheila West (Penn State
University)
Funded through the Canola/Flax Canadian Agri-Science
Cluster, a joint initiative of AAFC and the industry with funding
from the Canola Council of Canada, Flax Council of Canada, and Dow
AgroSciences
Effects of
canola oil fatty acid composition on insulin resistance and
obesity
(SC 1.2.1)
Objective: To investigate the effects of
canola oil and its fatty acid composition for prevention and
treatment of insulin resistance, inflammation and obesity using a
rodent model of diet-induced obesity. This research will fill
an important gap in knowledge regarding the effects of canola oil
for the prevention and management of insulin resistance,
inflammation and obesity. The results will be important for
designing human studies to verify the dietary fatty acid
compositions that are beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity
and reducing obesity. If the fatty acid composition of canola oil,
either alone or in combination with other dietary fats, proves
beneficial for prevention and treatment of insulin resistance,
inflammation and obesity, there will be increased awareness of the
health benefits of canola oil by consumers and health professionals
leading to greater consumption and utilization.
Research team: Dr. Carla Taylor
(University of Manitoba) - Project Leader; Dr. Peter Zahradka (St.
Boniface General Hospital Research Centre)
Funded through the Canola/Flax Canadian Agri-Science
Cluster, a joint initiative of AAFC and Canola Council of
Canada
Effect
of canola oil as part of a low glycemic load diet on glucose
control and coronary heart disease risk factors in type 2
diabetes
(SC 1.2.2)
Objective: To determine whether canola oil
improves glycemic control in non-insulin dependent diabetes, as
assessed by HbA1c and fasting blood glucose, and to assess whether
these outcomes relate to improvements in cardiovascular health,
i.e. plasma lipids, measures of oxidative stress, FMD and
inflammatory biomarkers including C-reactive protein. If
successful, this research will support scientific data on the
utility of low glycemic load diets in improving glycemic control
and reducing cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes. Positive
results would also establish canola oil as a healthy dietary
component and help to shape public opinion on its health benefits
and influence food choices in Canada and abroad.
Research team: Dr. David Jenkins
(University of Toronto) - Project Leader; Dr. Cyril Kendall
(University of Toronto); Dr. Sheila West (Penn State
University)
Funded through the Canola/Flax Canadian Agri-Science
Cluster, a joint initiative of AAFC and Canola Council of
Canada
Effects of canola
oil on blood vessel function in peripheral arterial disease
(PAD)
(SC 1.2.3)
Objective: To rank various oils/fatty acid
compositions with respect to post-prandial vascular activity. To
establish whether canola has positive effects on blood vessel
function by measuring true clinical endpoints such as arterial
stiffness and flow-mediated dilatation as well as the
ankle-brachial index, the gold standard for human trials of this
nature. As reduced blood flow contributes to cognitive impairment,
the study will also investigate whether improvements in blood
vessel function are also associated with improvements in cognitive
function.
Research team: Dr. Carla Taylor
(University of Manitoba) - Project Leader; Drs. Peter Zahradka and
Randy Guzman (St. Boniface General Hospital Research Centre)
Funded through the Canola/Flax Canadian Agri-Science
Cluster, a joint initiative of AAFC and Canola Council of
Canada
