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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #198923
Title: PALM AND PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED SOYBEAN OILS ADVERSELY ALTER LIPOPROTEIN PROFILES COMPARED WITH SOYBEAN AND CANOLA OILS IN MODERATELY HYPERLIPIDEMIC SUBJECTS

Author
item VEGA-LOPEZ, SONIA - TUFTS/HNRCA
item AUSMAN, LYNNE - TUFTS UNIVERSITY
item JALBERT, SUSAN - TUFTS/HNRCA
item ERKKILA, ARJA - UNIVERSITY OF KUOPIO
item Lichtenstein, Alice

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/2/2006
Publication Date: 7/1/2006
Citation: Vega-Lopez, S., Ausman, L.M., Jalbert, S.M., Erkkila, A.T., Lichtenstein, A.H. 2006. Palm and partially hydrogenated soybean oils adversely alter lipoprotein profiles compared with soybean and canola oils in moderately hyperlipidemic subjects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 84(1):54-62.

Interpretive Summary: It is known that hydrogenated fat, a source of trans fat, has an unfavorable effect on cardiovascular disease risk factors. In anticipation of the upcoming change in the Nutrient Facts Panel to include trans fat, there appears to be a shift within the food industry away from hydrogenated fats towards palm oil. However, palm oil is rich in saturated fat, also known to have an unfavorable effect on cardiovascular disease risk factors. The current study was conducted to compare the effect of hydrogenated soybean oil and palm oil to that of soybean and canola oils, on blood lipids. Fifteen volunteers over 50 y with high cholesterol participated in this study. They consumed each of four diets (35 d/phase) in a random order, which were identical except for the type of fat used to prepare the foods (hydrogenated soybean oil, soybean oil, canola oil, palm oil). Levels of HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol") and indicators of how this cholesterol is processed in the body were not different among diets. Levels of LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") were similar after the hydrogenated soybean oil and palm oil diets, and were higher than those observed after the soybean and canola oil diets. These results suggest that both, hydrogenated soybean oil and palm oil, have a similarly adverse effect on blood lipids in people with high cholesterol, and that it would be more favorable to consume oils with lower content of trans and saturated fat.

Technical Abstract: Background: Partially-hydrogenated fat has an unfavorable effect on cardiovascular disease risk. Palm oil has reemerged as a potential substitute due to favorable physical characteristics. Objective: To assess the effect of palm oil relative to both partially-hydrogenated fat and oils high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids. Design: Fifteen volunteers (>/=50 y) with LDL cholesterol >/=130 mg/dL were provided with food for each of four diets (35-d/phase) varying in type of fat (partially-hydrogenated soybean, soybean, palm, or canola; 2/3 fat, 20% energy). Plasma fatty acid profiles, lipids, lipoproteins, apo AI, apo B, Lp(a), glucose, insulin, HDL subfractions, and indicators of lipoprotein metabolism (HDL cholesterol fractional esterification rate, and CETP, PLTP and paraoxonase activities) were measured at the end of each phase. Results: Plasma fatty acid profiles reflected the major source of dietary fat. Partially-hydrogenated soybean and palm oils resulted in higher LDL concentrations than soybean (12% and 14%, respectively, P<0.05) and canola (16% and 18%, respectively, P<0.05) oils. Apo B (P<0.05) and AI (P<0.05) concentrations mirrored the pattern of LDL and HDL cholesterol concentrations, respectively. There was no significant effect of palm oil relative to the other dietary fats on the total cholesterol/HDL ratio. HDL3 cholesterol was higher after palm oil relative to partially-hydrogenated and soybean oils (P<0.05). Differences attributable to dietary fat in measures of glucose and HDL intravascular processing were small. Conclusions: Palm and partially-hydrogenated soybean oils, relative to soybean and canola oils, adversely altered the lipoprotein profile in moderately hyperlipidemic subjects without significantly affecting HDL intravascular processing markers.