A Diet Rich in Monounsaturated Fatty Acids Improves the Lipid Profile of Mice Previously on a Diet Rich in Saturated Fatty Acids

Abstract

This study investigated whether switching from a diet rich in saturated fatty acids (SAFAs) to a diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) or to one with equal amounts of MUFAs-SAFAs favorably affects the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic mice. C57BL/6 mice (n = 82) were allocated into 4 groups. The first group (control, n = 10) was fed standard chow. The 3 remaining groups (n = 24 mice/group) were fed a SAFA-rich diet for 8 weeks and were then allocated for 16 weeks to either a MUFA-rich diet, an equal in MUFAs-SAFAs-rich diet, or continued the previous SAFA-rich diet. After 8 weeks, mice consuming SAFA-rich diet had increased weight, total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (P < .05 vs baseline). At week 24, MUFA-rich and MUFA-SAFA rich diets decreased TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (P < .05) compared with week 8. In conclusion, switching to MUFA-rich diets or substituting half of the SAFAs with MUFAs can reverse diet-induced-hypercholesterolemia.

Short‐term and long‐term effects of excessive consumption of saturated fats and/or sucrose on metabolic variables in Sprague Dawley rats: a pilot study

“…The types of fat as well as sugar might vary in their ability to induce metabolic syndrome. It has been shown in a number of previous studies that, among animals fed similar amounts of fat, those fed diets containing mono‐ or polyunsaturated fat had improved lipid profiles and did not gain as much weight as those fed diets with more saturated fat, and the change from a diet high in saturated fat to one enriched in unsaturated fat tended to reverse metabolic damage . Indeed, we observed an inability of fructose to induce any sign of metabolic syndrome in SD rats.…”

Macadamia Oil Supplementation Attenuates Inflammation and Adipocyte Hypertrophy in Obese Mice

“…The role of a diet with a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids, in place or concomitant to a diet with high content of lipids, has been appointed as an effective strategy to control metabolic disorders [ 1 ]. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) rich diet has been reported to decrease plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and increase HDL-cholesterol levels [ 2 – 5 ].…”

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Improves Fatty Acids Profile in Pediatric Patients with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

“…The inverse correlation with arachidonic acid could be due to the fact that hypercholesterolemia causes an increase in the production of LTB4 [15], a metabolite of arachidonic acid, with the consequent decrease of arachidonic acid levels. As regards MUFAs, several studies in animal models have shown that high MUFA levels are associated with an increase in total serum cholesterol [16,17].…”