A comparison of the effects of feeding linoleic acid-rich lecithin or corn oil on cholesterol absorption and metabolism in the rat.

Either purified soya phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) or triacylglycerol (corn oil) were fed to rats on a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol. The diets contained similar amounts of linoleic acid. The effects of the two preparations on (a) serum cholesterol concentrations, (b) fatty acid profiles, (c) HMG-CoA reductase activity, (d) cholesterol absorption, and (e) faecal excretion of neutral sterols are compared. Some comparisons are also made with diets containing saturated triacylglycerol (lard) and no additional fats other than cholesterol. Serum cholesterol levels were less markedly raised on the lecithin diet, compared with the corn oil or lard diets. Evidence is presented that lecithin reduces the absorption of dietary cholesterol and also increases the excretion of neutral sterols. Our results suggest that soya lecithin is a more potent hypocholesterolaemic agent than corn oil.