Hypolipidemic effect of blends of coconut oil with soybean oil or sunflower oil in experimental rats

Blended oils, consisting of coconut oil with sunflower oil or soybean oil, were prepared (22–24% linoleic acid) to provide higher amounts of PUFA to coconut oil consumers. Animal experiments were carried out to find the effects of coconut oil blends, using weanling rats, by feeding native and blends of oils at 10% level in the diet for 60 days. Serum cholesterol levels were reduced by 5% and 21%, respectively, in rats given blended oils containing CNO/SFO and CNO/SBO while liver cholesterol did not show a significant change when rats were given blends in comparison with rats given CNO. Serum and liver lipid analyses also showed significant change in TG concentration in rats fed blended oils compared with rats given CNO. These studies indicated that the atherogenic potentials of a saturated fatty acid-rich CNO can be significantly decreased by blending with an oil rich in unsaturated lipids in appropriate amounts.