Effects of adaptation to diets enriched with saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats on lipid and serum fatty acid levels in miniature swine (Sus scrofa).

A total of 37 miniature swine (Sus scrofa) was fed with three diets of 9% fat content, differing only in the quality of the fat source (sunflower oil, olive oil and lard fat). Three groups of animals were fed for a 3 month period, and three other groups were fed for a 12 month period. After the two experimental periods, the influence of the diet on serum lipids and serum fatty acids was studied. In the short term, the serum cholesterol level was higher in the lard group, but with time, it undergoes a significant increase in the sunflower group, due to increases both in HDL-C and in LDL-C. In the olive oil group, LDL-C hardly varies with time, while HDL-C tends to decrease. In the lard group, LDL-C increases and HDL-C decreases. The atherogenic index is, in the long term, lower in the lard group and higher in the polyunsaturated fat group. The fatty acid composition of serum lipids in the long term shows a greater saturation index (SI) for the sunflower group and lard group, an increase in monounsaturated fatty acids in the olive oil group, and a higher percentage of linoleic acid in the sunflower group.