Effects on animal growth and lipid composition of heart, liver, and adipose tissue in male rats fed different levels and types of fats.

Weanling male rats were fed diets containing 5, 10, or 20% (by weight) fat. Diets were made isocaloric by decreasing the amount of starch as the diet fat level increased. At each fat level, three oil mixtures were fed which contained 13, 32, or 79% saturated fatty acids. The polyunsaturate level was 11% of total fatty acids in all mixtures. After 12 weeks, animals eating the high fat diets had gained significantly less weight and had eaten less feed. These animals also had significantly lighter livers and more liver lipids. The level and type of fat in the diet affected the amount (mg/g) of several phospholipids in the liver and heart. The fatty acid patterns (total saturates, n - 3, n - 6 fatty acids) of the major phospholipids were generally constant, the monounsaturated fatty acids being the major exception.