A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF RICE BRAN OIL AND CORN-OIL ON LIPID STATUS IN THE RAT

Rice bran oil (RBO) and corn oil (CO) were compared with respect to th eir effects on serum lipids in the rat by feeding purified diets havin g 10% as either oil. Source of dietary oil had no effect on serum leve ls of cholesterol, triglycerides, or phospholipids. However, serum fat ty acid profile was influenced by type of dietary oil, with the serum levels of linoleic acid being higher in animals fed CO than in ones fe d RBO; by contrast, feeding CO resulted in lower levels of oleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Differences betw een the two groups in serum fatty acid profile are attributed to the R BO having lower levels of linoleic acid but higher levels of both olei c acid and alpha-linolenic acid, the precursor of DHA. Future research should compare the influence of these two oils on the fatty acid comp osition of tissues rich in DHA, e.g., brain and retina, where this fat ty acid is thought to play a developmentally important role.