Journal Name:
J Applied Nutrition
Article Title:
Canola and Soybean Oil Supplementation of a Mixed Fat Diet Lowers Serum Cholesterol
Date Written:
1996
Volume:
48
Number:
4
Page:
125
Author(s):
Walker, P.M.; Shane, J.M.; Emken, E.
Article:
Data from numerous human studies indicate that saturated fatty acids (SFA) may increase and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may decrease serum lipid levels. Diets high in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) have reported cholesterol lowering effects. Soybean oil (SOY) contains about 54 percent linoleic acid (LA) and 7 to 9 percent alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). SOY provides more than three-fourths of the edible fats and oils consumed in the U.S. Very high intakes of PUFAs may lower high density (‘good’) lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and its subfractions HDL2 and lipoprotein A-1 which have protective roles in cardiovascular disease. Canola oil (CAN) is lower in SFAs, lower in LA, higher in ALA and higher in oleic acid than SOY. MUFAs may be a better replacement for SFAs than PUFAs. The purpose of this study was to compare the lipid lowering effects of CAN and SOY in young pre-menopausal women with normal lipid patterns receiving controlled diets containing mixed fat sources.
The effects of the incorporation of canola (CAN) and soybean oils (SOY) into a low-fat diet on serum lipid concentrations were compared. Eighteen young adult women, aged 20 – 33, with no history of hypercholesterolemia, received controlled experimental diets providing 30% of total energy intake as fat (with 10% of calories from mixed fat sources and 20% from either CAN or SOY) in an 8-week cross-over design consisting of two 4-week periods. Serum was analyzed for total cholesterol (CHOL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels.
Both SOY and CAN supplementation significantly lowered serum TG by 17.3% and 7.6%, respectively. CAN supplementation resulted in significant reductions of 11.1% and 14.5% in CHOL and LDL-C, respectively. SOY did not significantly alter serum CHOL, LDL-C, HDL-C or VLDL-C levels. A number of studies have compared the effect of oleic acid-rich and LA-rich diets. The purpose of this carefully controlled diet study was to evaluate the effects of MUFA versus PUFA on serum lipids. This study suggests that mixed fat diets supplemented with CAN alter serum lipid profiles more than mixed fat diets supplemented with SOY in young women who are not hypercholesterolemic. Further the data demonstrated that the hypocholesterolemic effect of a diet rich in oleic acid, moderate in LA and ALA. This observation is consistent with other reports of a hypocholesterolemic response to canola oil and supports dietary recommendations for inclusion of this oil in heart healthy diets.
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