EFFECTS OF INGESTED THERMOXIDISED PALM OIL ON LIPID DISTRIBUTION IN RAT

Intermittently thermoxidised palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) was incorpor ated at 15% of the basal diet and fed to male and female albino weanli ng rats of the wistar strain for six months. The organs of the rats we re examined for the levels of total cholesterol, phospholipid, free fa tty acids, and cerebrosides. Cholesterol levels were significantly (p< 0.01) elevated in the testes, kidneys, heart and brain of male rats, b ut were only elevated in the brain and liver of female rats. Phospholi pid levels were also significantly (p<0.01) elevated in the testes and heart of male rats; however, diminished levels were observed in the l ungs and heart of female rats. Further, free fatty acids were elevated significantly (p<0.01) in the brain, heart, liver, kidney, lungs and testes of male rats, while there was little or no change in the organs of female rats. In addition, the level of brain cerebroside was eleva ted in male rats only. The results are discussed, with reference to po ssible toxicity of thermoxidised palm oil.