HIGH CHOLESTEROL DIET SUPPLEMENTED WITH SUNFLOWER SEED OIL BUT NOT OLIVE OIL STIMULATES LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN PLASMA, LIVER, AND AORTA OF RATS

Abstract

To determine the effect of a high cholesterol diet supplemented with sunflower seed oil or olive oil on plasma, liver, and aorta lipid peroxidation, rats were fed a basal diet, a high cholesterol diet (basal diet containing 2% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid), or a high cholesterol diet supplemented with 10% (wt/wt) sunflower seed oil or 10% (wt/wt) olive oil for 4 months. In rats fed the high cholesterol diet supplemented with sunflower seed oil, plasma, fiver, and aorta lipid peroxide levels and the aorta cholesterol to phospholipid ratio were greater than in rats fed the high cholesterol diet. In contrast, no change was observed in plasma, fiver, and aorta lipid peroxidation and the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in rats fed the high cholesterol diet containing olive oil as compared with the high cholesterol diet. In addition, atherosclerotic lesions were nor detected in the aorta of all groups. We concluded that a high cholesterol diet supplemented with polyunsaturated fats, but not with monounsaturated fats, seems to have a tendency to exaggerate lipid peroxidation.