Unrefined and refined black raspberry seed oils significantly lower triglycerides and moderately affect cholesterol metabolism in male Syrian hamsters

Unrefined and refined black raspberry seed oils (RSO) were examined for their lipid‐modulating effects in male Syrian hamsters fed high cholesterol (0.12%), high fat (9%) diets. Compared to a coconut oil diet, the unrefined RSO diets significantly lowered plasma triglycerides (46%; p = 0.0126), whereas the refined RSO only tended to lower plasma triglyceride (29%; p = 0.1630). Liver triglyceride concentrations were 46% and 36% lower (p < 0.001) in the unrefined and refined RSO diets, respectively. Hamsters fed the refined and the unrefined RSO diets had equivalently lower plasma total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in comparison to the coconut oil diet. While the unrefined RSO treatment group did not differ in liver total and esterified cholesterol from the coconut oil control animals, the refined RSO resulted in significantly elevated liver total and esterified cholesterol concentrations. Both RSO diets demonstrated a moderate effect upon cholesterol metabolism despite enrichment in linoleic acid, significantly lowering HDL cholesterol but not non‐HDL cholesterol. Thus, both RSO diets significantly reduced hypertriglyceridemia, most likely due to enrichment in alpha‐linolenic acid. As a terrestrial source of alpha‐linolenic acid, black raspberry seed oils, both refined and unrefined, provide a promising alternative to fish oil supplementation in management of hypertriglyceridemia.