Cholesterol vehicle in experimental atherosclerosis. 22. Refined, bleached, deodorized (RBD) palm oil, randomized palm oil and red palm oil

The atherogenic effects of refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm oil were compared with those of randomized RBD palm oil and red palm oil. RBD p alm oil contains 41.2%, palmitic acid, 2.6% at the SN2 position. In randomi zed palm oil, 13.6% of the palmitic acid is in the SN2 position. Randomized palm oil is significantly more atherogenic for rabbits than is RBD palm oi l, supporting our earlier findings that the increasing amounts of palmitic acid in the SN2 position of a fat lead to an increased atherogenic effect. Red palm oil is the oil initially obtained from the palm fruit which contai ns carotenes and Vitamin E that are removed during refining. Red palm oil w as significantly less atherogenic than RBD palm oil supporting the hypothes is that carotenoids and Vitamin E may protect against atherosclerosis. The oils tested had similar effects on serum and liver lipids. (C) 2000 Elsevie r Science Inc.