Abstract
Crude rubber seed oil (RSO) was incorporated at the 5% level in diets free of cholesterol or containing 1% cholesterol, respectively. These studies were initiated for the purpose of evaluating the palatability and potential toxicity of RSO. Corn oil was used as a control. A considerable amount of unsaponifiable matter was detected in RSO. In addition, RSO was found to possess a fatty acid profile which was fairly different from that of corn oil, primarily due to a much higher content of linolenic acid and a lower content of linoleic acid in RSO. No adverse effects on food intake and average daily gain were observed in rats fed RSO in both cholesterol-free and cholesterol diets. The presence of RSO in cholesterol-free diets results in lower (p<0.05) serum and liver total cholesterol levels than in control animals. A relative hypercholesterolemic effect compared to corn oil was observed however, when RSO was added to diets containing 1% cholesterol. In summary, the physicochemical properties of RSO as well as the presence of cholesterol in the diet are important factors in evaluating the cholesterolemic effect of RSO.
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Nwokolo, E., Kitts, D.D. & Kanhai, J. Serum and liver lipids of rats fed rubber seed oil. Plant Food Hum Nutr 38, 145–153 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01091719
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01091719