Olive Oil Snubbed in Study by Canola Reps
American and Canadian researchers found that canola oil and high-oleic canola oils can lower abdomÂiÂnal fat when used in place of other selected oil blends, as shown in a study preÂsented at the American Heart Association’s EPI/NPAM 2013 sciÂenÂtific sesÂsions. Previous research has also linked diets rich in monounÂsatÂuÂrated fats, such as the Mediterranean diet with olive oil, to lower risk of metaÂbolic synÂdrome, sugÂgestÂing that includÂing olive oil in the study could have been benÂeÂfiÂcial.
American and Canadian researchers found that canola oil and high-oleic canola oils can lower abdomÂiÂnal fat when used in place of other selected oil blends. The study preÂsented at the American Heart Association’s EPI/NPAM 2013 sciÂenÂtific sesÂsions in New Orleans, comÂpared five oils in a ranÂdomÂized, conÂtrolled trial with 121 parÂticÂiÂpants. These oils included canola oil, high-oleic canola oil, flax/safflower blend, corn/safflower blend and high oleic enriched with an algal source of the omega‑3 DHA. The results showed that those who conÂsumed canola or high-oleic canola oils lowÂered their belly fat by 1.6 perÂcent comÂpared to those who conÂsumed a flax/safflower oil blend.
It is not the first time that a diet rich monounÂsatÂuÂrated fats has been related to lower risk of metaÂbolic synÂdrome. Several sciÂenÂtific reviews have assoÂciÂated the Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil with lower risk of metaÂbolic synÂdrome, notÂing that it was not due to only one comÂpoÂnent but to the whole eatÂing patÂtern.
Knowing that olive oil has one of the highÂest perÂcentÂages of monounÂsatÂuÂrated fats among comÂmonly used cookÂing oils (even canola), as well as being rich in sevÂeral antioxÂiÂdants and other proÂtecÂtive comÂpoÂnents, it would make sense to include olive oil in such a study. Perhaps it was not included as this project was funded by the govÂernÂment of Canada, the Canola Council of Canada and Dow Agrosciences.
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