Corn Oil Trumps Extra Virgin Olive Oil in Lowering Cholesterol

WASHINGTONNew research presented last week at the American Society for Nutrition's Advances & Controversies in Clinical Nutrition Conference found plant sterols naturally found in corn oil significantly reduces cholesterol with more favorable changes in total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C than extra virgin olive oil.

Among the 54 healthy men and women in the feeding study, consumption of foods made with corn oil resulted in significantly lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol than the same foods made with extra virgin olive oil. Corn oil lowered LDL cholesterol by 10.9% compared to extra virgin olive oil's 3.5% reduction, and total cholesterol decreased by 8.2% with corn oil compared to 1.8% for extra virgin olive oil.

Study participants received four tablespoons of corn oil or extra virgin olive oil in the foods provided every day, consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations. All foods were provided to the study participants as part of a weight-maintenance diet.

The randomized, double-blind, controlled crossover clinical trial assessed the effects of dietary oils on fasting lipoprotein lipids. The study compared the effects of corn and extra virgin olive oil on LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and the total to HDL cholesterol ratio. Study participants had fasting LDL cholesterol &#8805;130 mg/dL and <200 mg/dL. Fasting blood samples, along with other clinical measurements, were taken from all participants during visits to the clinical study center before and after each treatment phase of the study.

"The study results suggest corn oil has significantly greater effects on blood cholesterol levels than extra virgin olive oil, due, in part, to the natural cholesterol-blocking ability of plant sterols," said lead researcher Kevin C Maki, PhD, of Biofortis, the clinical research arm of Mérieux NutriSciences. "These findings add to those from prior research supporting corn oil's positive heart health benefits."

Corn oil has a unique combination of healthy fatty acids and plant sterols, which research suggests help lower cholesterol. Corn oil has four times more plant sterols than olive oil and 40% more than canola oil.