Cholesterol vehicle in experimental atherosclerosis. Part 16. Effect of peanut oil on pre-established lesions.

Rabbits were fed an atherogenic diet (2% cholesterol and 6% corn oil) for 8 weeks and then divided into groups of equal average serum cholesterol levels. One group was autopsied, and the others were returned to cholesterol-free diets consisting of commercial laboratory ration or ration augmented with 6% corn oil, peanut oil or PGF, a fat designed to resemble peanut oil minus arachidic and behenic acids. The animals were maintained on the diets for 8 more weeks. On all regimens, severity of atherosclerosis was exacerbated. The extent of exacerbation was significantly less in rabbits fed corn oil than in the others. The extent of exacerbation of lesions appears to be a function of the level of unsaturation of the dietary fats.