EFFECT OF LONG-TERM FEEDING OF HIGH-FAT DIETS ON GROWTH, PLASMA AND TISSUE-LIPIDS IN RATS

The influences of long term feeding of peanut oil (PNO) sesame oil (SO ) and coconut oil (CNO) in synthetic diets at 5 and 20% levels on grow th, plasma and tissue lipids were studied in rats. The growth rates of 20% fed animals were higher than the 5% fed animals. No significant d ifferences were observed in the total plasma cholesterol levels in any of the groups, but significantly low levels of HDL-C and high levels of LDL-C + VLDL-C were observed in CNO groups. Liver cholesterol and p hospholipid levels were significantly lower in CNO and SO groups. Plas ma fatty acid analysis indicated higher levels of capric (10:0), palmi tic (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0) in CNO groups compared to others. A nalysis of erythrocyte fatty acids indicated high levels of arachidoni c acid (20:4, n-6) in CNO groups, despite low levels of linoleic acid (18:2, n-6) in CNO. The arachidonic acid levels were higher in erythro cytes and were independent of the supply of linoleate. Adipose tissue fatty acid analysis indicated low levels of linoleate and high levels of saturated fatty acids in CNO group as compared to other groups. The ratios such as oleic/linoleic, oleic/stearic and linoleic/arachidonic acid were normal, indicating the type of fat consumed. Thus, the pres ent study has shown that feeding higher levels of CNO can lead to an i ncrease in the saturated fatty acids, LDL and VLDL, as compared to SO and PNO fed rats.