Differential Utilization of Low and High Dietary Cholesterol by Cockerels Fed Medium-chain Triglycerides or Corn Oil

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Abstract
Literature reports suggest a difference in the relative hypercholesterolemic properties of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and corn oil between man and a number of experimental animals. In the present study cholesterol absorption and concentration in plasma and liver were studied in week-old cockerels fed corn oil or MCT in the presence of a relatively high (1.2%) and a low (0.15%) level of dietary cholesterol. It was found that corn oil was more hypercholesterolemic in the presence of the high level of dietary cholesterol. This could be attributed to significantly better cholesterol absorption in the presence of corn oil. With the relatively low level of dietary cholesterol, MCT were found to be more hypercholesterolemic than corn oil. This could be attributed to a significantly lower cholesterol turnover rate. These findings explain the apparent differences noted earlier as between man and certain experimental animals and point to the importance of evaluating the relative hypercholesterolemic properties of fats at more than one level of dietary cholesterol.