Effect of long-term optional ingestion of canola oil, grape seed oil, corn oil and yogurt butter on serum, muscle and liver cholesterol status in rats

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of long-term optional intake of vegetable oils (canola, grape seed, corn) and yogurt butter on the serum, liver and muscle cholesterol status. Twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly categorized into five groups (n = 5) as follows: control, canola oil, grape seed oil, corn oil and manually prepared yogurt butter. In each group, 24 h two bottle choice (oil and water) tests were performed for 10 weeks. Serum cholesterol values showed a trend to decrease in grape seed oil, corn oil and yogurt butter groups compared to the control. Optional intake of yogurt butter made a significant increase in HDL-C values (42.34 +/- 9.98 mg/dL) yet decrease in LDLC values (11.68 +/- 2.06 mg/dL) compared to the corresponding control (19.07 +/- 3.51; 30.96 +/- 6.38 mg/dL, respectively). Furthermore, such findings were concomitant with a significant decrease in the liver TC levels (1.75 +/- 0.31 mg/g liver) and an increase in the muscle TC levels (1.85 +/- 0.32 mg/g liver) compared to the corresponding control (2.43 +/- 0.31; 0.94 +/- 0.14 mg/g liver, respectively). Optional intake of manually prepared yogurt butter has more beneficial effects on serum lipoprotein cholesterol values with some alterations in the liver and muscle cholesterol states than the vegetable oils. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.