Palm Olein May Raise Cholesterol

COPENHAGENPalm olein may not be as heart healthy as previously thought, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The findings suggest palm olein has similar effects as lard and may increase overall cholesterol levels by about 5%.

Researchers from Copenhagen University investigated the effects of a diet rich in palm olein, fractionated palm oil, olive oil, and lard on plasma blood lipids, inflammatory markers, glucose and insulin on cholesterol levels. The study included 32 healthy men who replaced part of their normal daily dietary fat intake with 17% of calories from palm olein, olive oil or lard, respectively.

Compared with intake of olive oil, palm olein and lard increased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by 5%. Palm olein resulted in a lower plasma triacylglycerol concentration than olive oil. No difference in effects was observed in plasma HDL-cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, plasminogen activator-1, insulin and glucose concentrations.