Influence of cocoa butter on cholesterol metabolism in rats: Comparison with corn oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil

Abstract

Rat were fed a semipurified diet containing 14% fat for 5 weeks. The fats compared were corn oil (CO), coconut oil (CNO), palm kernel oil (PKO) and cocoa butter (CB). Rats fed CO gained more weight than the others. Serum cholesterol levels were generally highest in rats fed PKO and liver cholesterol levels were highest in rats fed CO. Liver triglycerides were also highest in rats fed CO. Cholesterol absorption was highest in rats fed CO (62.1%) and PKO (62.7%) and lowest in those fed CNO (52.9%) and CB (50.9%). Cholesterogenesis in liver slices was assayed usign 1- 14C acetate and 2- 14C-mevalonate. When acetate was the substrate, liver slices from rats fed CB incorporated more isotope into cholesterol than the other three groups. Liver slices from rats fed CO or CB incorporated more mevalonate into cholesterol than did slices from rats fed either CNO or PKO. The effect of CB on cholesterol metabolism belies its low iodine value and may be due to triglyceride structure or the percentage of long-chain saturated fatty acids present in this fat.