Dietary oils high in oleic acid, but with different non-glyceride contents, have different effects on lipid profiles and peroxidation in rabbit hepatic mitochondria

The influence on the lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in rabbit-liver m itochondria exerted by different edible oils high in oleic acid but differe nt non-glyceride phenolic fractions was studied. High-phenolic virgin olive oil from the variety "Picual", the same oil submitted to an exhaustive pro cess of washing to eliminate the phenolic fraction without altering the lip id profile and high-oleic sunflower oil (poor in phenolic compounds) were a dded to rabbit diets. The results reveal the importance of the different ol eic: linoleic ratio of the lipid sources on the lipid profile of mitochondr ial membranes. This is highlighted by the greater proportion of saturated f atty acids and the lower content in oleic acid(p < 0.05) shown by the rabbi ts fed on high-oleic sunflower oil. The group fed on the fat rich in phenol ics exhibited the highest level of antioxidants (ru-tocopherol, ubiquinone 10) and the highest activity of glutathione peroxidase as well as the lowes t content in hydroperoxides and TEARS. The study provides evidences in vivo about the considerable antioxidant capacity of the phenolic fraction of vi rgin olive oil in rabbit-liver mitochondria and the important role that thi s non-glyceride fraction can play in the overall antioxidant benefits attri buted to this oil. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.