Monounsaturated fatty acids-rich diets in hypercholesterolemic-growing rats

Abstract

The effects of replacing dietary saturated fat by different monounsaturated fatty acid (ω-9MUFA) sources on serum lipids, body fat and bone in growing hypercholesterolemic rats were studied. Rats received one of the six different diets: AIN-93G (control, C); extra virgin olive oil (OO) + C; high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) + C or atherogenic diet (AT) for 8 weeks; the remaining two groups received AT for 3 weeks and then, the saturated fat was replaced by an oil mixture of soybean oil added with OO or HOSO for 5 weeks. Rats consuming MUFA-rich diets showed the highest body fat, hepatic index and epididymal, intestinal and perirenal fat, and triglycerides. T-chol and non-HDL-chol were increased in HOSO rats but decreased in OO rats. Bone mineral content and density were higher in both OO and HOSO groups than in AT rats. This study casts caution to the generalization of the benefits of MUFA for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

• Body fat distribution
• bone mineral content
• lipid profile
• liver fat
• MUFA

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Ricardo Orzuza of the Department of Biochemistry and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, for his technical support and animal care.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The University of Buenos Aires, grant 20020100100613, supported this study. F.L. was supported by Pediatric Sunshine Academics Inc. E.A. also received support from Pediatric Sunshine Academics Inc.