Antiatherogenic Effect of Olive and Corn Oils in Cholesterol‐Fed Rabbits with the Same Plasma Cholesterol Levels

Two groups of 18 rabbits were fed Isocalorlc, cholesterol-enriched diets for 8 weeks. The diet for one group was supplemented with 5% corn oil. The concentration of cholesterol in plasma was determined weekly and the amount of cholesterol In the diet was adjusted Individually so that each rabbit had a mean plasma cholesterol concentration of about 45 mM during the experimental period. The aortic cholesterol concentrations were 122 ± 29 and 193 ± 38 (mean ± SEM) /xmol/g protein for the cornoil group and the control group, respectively (p<0.05). In a similar experiment, each of 36 rabbits was given a mean plasma cholesterol level of about 20 mM over a period of 12 weeks. One-third of the rabbits received 10% to 15% corn oil, another third 10% to 15% olive oil, while the last third served as a control group. The aortic cholesterol concentrations were 98 ± 25, 57 ± 9, and 131 ± 32 μmol/g protein, respectively. The value for the olive-oil group was significantly (p<0.01) lower than the value for the control group. The trlglycerlde concentrations and the distributions of cholesterol between HDL, LDL, and VLDL In plasma showed no significant differences between the plant-oil groups and their control groups. This suggests that plant oils have a direct effect on the aortic cholesterol metabolism.