EFFECTS OF DIETARY SOYABEAN AND COCONUT OILS ON LIPID COMPOSITION OF THE BLOOD AND AORTA OF RATS

Abstract

Male albino rats were maintained either on diets with 5% fat supplements made of 5% soyabean oil or 5% coconut oil.  Similarly, two other groups were fed diets that were isocaloric with the former but contained 25% fat supplements made of 25% soyabean oil or 25% coconut oil.  The concentration of triacylglycerols in the plasma of the high coconut oil diet fed rats was three to six-times those of the others.  The concentration of free cholesterol was much higher in the plasma of the coconut oil diet fed rats.  Eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3) constituted one of the major fatty acids in the plasma and the aorta of the coconut oil diet fed rats.  It is considered that ingestion of coconut oil for a considerably long time may affect lipid metabolism and alter the structure and function of the enzymes responsible for converting the essential fatty acids to prostaglandins or their endoperoxide precursors.  It is also considered to be a contributory factor to atherogenesis.