title: Sunflower, virgin-olive and fish oils differentially affect the progression of aortic lesions in rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis.
abstract: In this study we report the effects of sunflower, virgin olive and fish oils on the progression of aortic lesions. A total of 24 male New Zealand rabbits (six per each group) were fed for 50 days on a diet containing 3% lard and 1.3% cholesterol, to induce atherosclerosis. An atherogenic control group (A) was killed after this period and three groups were fed for an additional period of 30 days with a diet composed of (1.75 g of supplemented oil and 98.25 of standard chow): sunflower oil (S), virgin olive oil (O) and fish oil (F). A control group (n=6) was fed with a standard chow diet for 80 days. LDL lipid composition and histological analysis of aortic atherosclerotic lesions were assayed. The atherogenic diet caused a significant increase of cholesterol levels in LDL and aorta tissue. Cholesterol ester content rose significantly in the aortic arch of groups S, O and F. Fatty streaks were found in all aortic sections, although only group S showed a significant progression of the lesion compared with group A. We conclude that the replacement of a high cholesterol-saturated fat diet by another cholesterol free-unsaturated fat diet does not regress atherosclerosis in rabbit. However, sunflower oil provokes a significant progression in lesion development, whereas diet enrichment with extra virgin olive oil and, to a lesser extent, fish oil, stops this progression.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Granada, C/ Ramón y Cajal, 4, 18071, Granada, Spain. caguiler@ugr.es
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Aguilera
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Ramírez-Tortosa
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Mesa
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Ramírez-Tortosa
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D000074242:Sunflower Oil
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D008055:Lipids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074242:Sunflower Oil