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

To determine the effect of a high cholesterol diet supplemented with s unflower seed oil or olive oil on plasma, liver, and aorta lipid perox idation, rats were fed a basal diet, a high cholesterol diet (basal di et containing 2% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid), or a high choleste rol diet supplemented with 10% (wt/wt) sunflower seed oil or 10% (wt/w t) olive oil for 4 months. In rats fed the high cholesterol diet suppl emented with sunflower seed oil, plasma, fiver, and aorta lipid peroxi de levels and the aorta cholesterol to phospholipid ratio were greater than in rats fed the high cholesterol diet. In contrast, no change wa s observed in plasma, fiver, and aorta lipid peroxidation and the chol esterol to phospholipid ratio in rats fed the high cholesterol diet co ntaining olive oil as compared with the high cholesterol diet. In addi tion, atherosclerotic lesions were nor detected in the aorta of all gr oups. We concluded that a high cholesterol diet supplemented with poly unsaturated fats, but not with monounsaturated fats, seems to have a t endency to exaggerate lipid peroxidation.