Serum lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride
concentrations in pigs fed diets containing fish oil,
milkfat, olive oil and coconut oil
Frazer J. Allan
a,
*, Keith G. Thompson
a
, Kerry A.C. James
b
,
B. William Manktelow
a
, John P. Koolaard
b
, Roger N. Johnson
c
,
Prudence V. McNutt
c
a
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
b
Crop & Food Research Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand
c
National Women’s Hospital, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Auckland, New Zealand
Received 3 April 2000; received in revised form 4 September 2000; accepted 8 September 2000
Abstract
Eight-week-old pigs (6 pigs per group) were fed diets containing either fish oil, milkfat, coconut oil,
olive oil or cornstarch at an inclusion rate of 4% (w/w) for 3 weeks. Serum total cholesterol concentration
was significantly higher in pigs fed coconut oil than in pigs fed cornstarch or fish oil (p Ͻ 0.05). Pigs fed
coconut oil, olive oil and milkfat had a significantly higher HDL cholesterol concentration than those fed
cornstarch or fish oil. There were no significant differences in LDL cholesterol concentrations between
groups. The serum triglyceride concentrations were higher in pigs receiving coconut oil and milkfat. This
study showed that dietary fats that have a hypercholesterolaemic effect in humans tended to raise HDL
cholesterol rather than LDL cholesterol concentrations in pigs. These findings suggest differences in
lipoprotein metabolism between humans and pigs and caution is warranted when making inferences about
human lipoprotein metabolism from porcine studies. © 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Swine; Triglycerides; Cholesterol; Dietary fats
1. Introduction
Dietary fat can have a profound effect on serum lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride
concentrations and atheroma formation in human beings [1,2,3]. This has resulted in the
* Corresponding author. Tel.: ϩ647-859-1304; fax: ϩ647-838-2721.
E-mail address: fraz.rebs@actrix.co.nz (F.J. Allan).
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Nutrition Research 21 (2001) 785–795
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