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COMPARISON OF HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC ACTIVITY OF TEA SEED OIL WITH COMMONLY USED VEGETABLE OILS IN HAMSTERS
Author(s) -
GUAN LEI,
CHUNG HAU YIN,
CHEN ZHEN YU
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of food biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.507
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-4514
pISSN - 0145-8884
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4514.2010.00425.x
Subject(s) - canola , food science , phytosterol , corn oil , cholesterol , chemistry , triglyceride , soybean oil , biochemistry
Interest in tea seed oil (named tea oil) as a cooking oil is increasing. However, its effect on blood cholesterol is not known. This study was therefore conducted to compare the hypocholesterolemic activity of tea oil with grape seed, canola and corn oils. Results showed that plasma total cholesterol (TC), non‐high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (non‐HDL‐C) and triacylglycerols (TG) in hamsters fed with a 0.1% cholesterol diet containing tea, grape, canola or corn oil were significantly reduced compared with those in lard‐fed group. Tea oil decreased only non‐HDL‐C and had no or little effect on HDL‐C concentration, while grape oil reduced both. Unlike grape oil, tea oil up‐regulated sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP‐2) and low‐density lipoprotein receptor. Besides, tea oil‐fed hamsters excreted less neutral but greater acidic sterols compared with other three oils. Differences between tea oil and the tested vegetable oils could be attributable partially to the greatest oleic acid (>80%) and least phytosterol content in tea oil.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Although tea leaves are used worldwide, tea oil is only used in some Asian countries. Extensive research has shown the health benefits of tea drinking. However, benefit associated with the consumption of tea seed oil remains unclear. We have shown that tea seed oils were able to lower plasma cholesterol equally as grape, canola and corn oil in hamsters fed a 0.1% cholesterol diet. The hypocholesterolemic activity of tea oil was characterized by decreasing only non‐high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (non‐HDL‐C) and having no effect on HDL‐C concentration. Most importantly, tea oil could up‐regulate sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 and low‐density lipoprotein receptor. It was further demonstrated that hamsters fed the tea oil diet excreted lesser neutral but greater acidic sterols compared with other three vegetable oils. These results suggest that the tea seed oil could be an alternative healthy oil for human consumption.