CHOLESTEROL VEHICLE IN EXPERIMENTAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS - 20 - COTTONSEED-OIL AND RANDOMIZED COTTONSEED-OIL

Earlier studies have suggested that the presence of palmitic acid in t he SN2 position of a triglyceride increases its atherogenic potential. Cottonseed oil contains about 24% palmitic acid of which only 2% is p resent at SN2. After randomization one third of the palmitic acid of c ottonseed oil is at SN2. Rabbits were fed a semipurified diet containi ng 14% native or randomized cottonseed oil and 0.10% cholesterol. Afte r 90 days the rabbits fed the randomized cottonseed oil exhibited sign ificantly more severe atherosclerosis than those fed the native cotton seed oil. Plasma lipid levels were similar in the two groups. The incr eased atherogenicity of the randomized cottonseed oil may reflect the increased absorbability of fats with palmitic acid at the SN2 position . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.