The Effect of Dietary Oils and Fatty Acids on Cholesterol Metabolism in the Rat

Rats were fed diets containing 20% oils and 9% fatty acids and the effect of these compounds on cholesterol metabolism was studied. Unsaturated oils and fatty acids increased total cholesterol in the liver and stimulated the incorporation of C14-acetate into cholesterol both in vivo and in liver homogenates. Saturated material such as coconut oil and lauric acid had the opposite effect with respect to amount of liver cholesterol and to in vivo incorporation. The saturated material had no significant effect on synthesis in homogenates. The effect of oils in the diet was rapid, the stimulating effect of rapeseed oils being observed after the rats had been placed on the diet for as short a period as 3 days.