EFFECTS OF A TRISTEARATE-CONTAINING LIPID AND CANOLA OIL ON PLASMA AND TISSUE-LIPIDS IN RATS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed semipurified diets containing 12% fa t and 0.4% cholesterol for 4 wk. The fats were palm oil, a high-steara te fat and canola oil; each of the latter two fat sources was substitu ted for palm oil in 4% (w/w) increments (i.e, 4, 8 and 12%) thus yield ing 3 stearate-containing, 3 canola-containing, and a 12% palm oil die t. Stearate-fed animals exhibited significantly decreased food efficie ncy ratios, plasma total cholesterol, and liver cholesterol whereas th e substitution of canola for palm oil did not consistently alter these parameters. Liver fatty acids generally reflected the composition of the dietary fat sources with the exception of significantly higher ara chidonate observed in the stearate-fed rats.