Lipid metabolism in rats fed diets containing different types of lipids.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of different types of lipid diets on the lipid metabolism of aging rats.


METHODS
Fifty male Wistar rats were studied from the time of weaning to 12 and 18 months of age. Their diets were supplemented as follows: with soybean oil (S), canola oil (CA), lard and egg yolk (LE), and canola oil + lard and egg yolk (CA + LE). Blood pressure (BP) was measured every month, and the heart/body ratio (H/BR) was determined. The rats were euthanized at the age of 12 and 18 months, and blood samples were collected for lipid analysis as follows: total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, VLDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and glucose.


RESULTS
The type of oil ingested by the animals significantly altered BP, H/BR, and serum lipid levels in rats at 12 and 18 months. No difference was observed in the survival curve of the animals in the different groups. The LE group had the highest BP, and the CA group was the only one in which BP did not change with aging. A reduction in the H/BR was observed in the LE and CA+LE animals. At the age of 12 months, differences in TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TG, and glucose were observed. At the age of 18 months, a significant difference in TC, HDL-C, and glucose was observed. The highest TC value was found in the CA group and the lowest in the S group.


CONCLUSIONS
No increase in BP occurred, and an improvement was evident in the lipid profile of rats fed a diet supplemented with CA, in which an elevation in HDL-C levels was observed, as compared with levels with the other types of diet.
Aguila
Márcia Barbosa
MB
Centro Biomédico, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20551-030, Brazil.
Loureiro
Carla Cota
CC
Pinheiro
Alessandra da Rocha
Ada R
Mandarim-De-Lacerda
Carlos Alberto
CA
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009821:Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D009821:Oils; D010938:Plant Oils