INFORM January 2024

inform January 2024, Vol. 35 (1) • 33

Olive pomace oil can improve blood lipid profile: a randomized, blind, crossover, controlled clinical trial in healthy and at-risk volunteers González-Rámila, S., et al. , European Journal of Nutrition , 62, 589, 2023. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-022-03001-y Purpose This study aimed to assess the effect of dietary consumption of olive pomace oil (OPO) on blood lipids (primary outcome) and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (blood pressure, inflammation and endothelial function as secondary outcomes). Methods A randomized, controlled, blind, crossover intervention was car ried out in healthy and at-risk (hypercholesterolemic) subjects. Participants consumed daily 45 g of OPO or high-oleic acid sun flower oil (HOSO) as control oil during 4 weeks. Results OPO significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; P = 0.003) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B; P = 0.022) serum concentrations, and LDL/HDL ratio ( P = 0.027) in healthy and at-risk volunteers. These effects were not observed with HOSO. Blood pressure, peripheral artery tonometry (PAT), endothelial function and inflammation biomarkers were not affected. Conclusions Regular consumption of OPO in the diet could have hypolipidemic actions in subjects at cardiovascular risk as well as in healthy con sumers, contributing to CVD prevention. Postprandial fatty acid metabolism with coconut oil in young females: a randomized, single-blind, crossover trial Furuta, Y., et al. , The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , 117, 6, 1240, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.03.015 Background Approximately 84% of the fatty acids contained in coconut oil (CO) are saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and approximately 47% of the SFA are lauric acid with 12 carbon atoms. Lauric acid carbon chain length is intermediate between medium and long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). We examined how CO acts on lipid-related sub stances in the blood to determine whether its properties were simi lar to medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) or LCFAs. Methods This is a randomized controlled, single-blind, crossover study. Fifteen females were enrolled, using 3 test meals containing 30 g each of 3 different oils: CO (CO-meal), medium-chain triacyl glycerol oil (MCT-meal), and long-chain triacylglycerol oil (LCT meal). Blood samples were collected at fasted baseline and every 2 h for 8 h after the intake of each test meal.

Results Repeated measures ANOVA of the ketone bodies and triglyceride (TG) showed an interaction between time and the test meal ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). In subsequent Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) test of the ketone bodies, statistically significant differences were observed between the CO-meal and the LCT-meal ( P < 0.05) 83.8 (95% CI, 14.7, 153.0) and between the MCT-meal and the LCT-meal ( P < 0.05) 79.2 (95% CI, 10.0, 148.4). The incremental area under the curve (iAUC) and maximum increase in very low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL C) were the lowest for CO-meal intake. Conclusions The characteristics of lauric acid contained in CO, including the kinetics of β-oxidation and effects on blood TG, were very similar to those of MCFA. Moreover, regarding the iAUC and peak increment, VLDL-C and IDL-C were the lowest with the CO-meal. These results suggest that the intake of CO after fast ing does not increase the TG, VLDL-C, and IDL-C, and may help prevent dyslipidemia. A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oils Al-Madhagy, S., et al. , European Journal of Medical Research , 28, 240, 2023. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40001-023-01203-6 Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L) is an ancient perennial plant species regarded as a multipurpose plant owing to its richness in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) including α-linolenic acid (ALA). The extensive biochemical analysis of flaxseed resulted in the identification of its bioactive, i.e., lignans with potential appli cation in the improvement of human health. Flaxseed oil, fibers, and lignans exert potential health benefits including reduction of cardio vascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, osteopo rosis, and autoimmune and neurological disorders that have led to the diversification of flaxseed plant applications. This comprehen sive review focuses on flaxseed oil as the major product of flaxseed with emphasis on the interrelationship between its chemical com position and biological effects. Effects reviewed include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulcer, anti-oste oporotic, cardioprotective, metabolic, and neuroprotective. This study provides an overview of flaxseed oil effects with the reported action mechanisms related to its phytochemical composition and in comparison, to other PUFA-rich oils. This study presents the most updated and comprehensive review summarizing flaxseed oil’s health benefits for the treatment of various diseases.

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