Hepatic fatty acid metabolism in rats fed diets with different contents of C18 : 0, C18 : 1 cis and C18 : 1 trans isomers

In the present study the effects of some C18 fatty acids on hepatic fatty acid metabolism have been compared. Male rats were fed cholesterol-free diets containing either C18 : 0, C18 : 1 cis or C18 : 1 trans isomers as the variables. In accordance with previous work, oleic acid in the diet caused an increase in cholesterol concentration in the liver and in the lipoprotein fraction of density (d; kg/l)<1·006. Oleic acid also reduced the triacylglycerol:cholesterol value in this fraction. Surprisingly, the C18 : 1 trans isomers diet induced a decrease in the amount of cholesterol in total plasma as well as in the 1·019