Abstract
Background: The effects of dietary fat on health are influenced by its fatty acid profile. We aimed to determine the effects of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)-rich blended oils (BO) containing a balance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and with a low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio on the health of rats fed normal or high-fat diets. The BO was obtained by mixing red palm oil, rice bran oil (RO), tea seed oil, and flaxseed oil in appropriate proportions. Results: BO consumption reduced the serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), insulin (INS), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), lipid peroxide (LPO) and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) concentrations and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); and increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations and the bone mineral density (BMD) versus control oil-containing normal and high-fat diets. BO also reduced the triglyceride (TG), hs-CRP, MDA, ox-LDL, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations; and increased the serum HDL-C and SOD, and BMD versus RO-containing high-fat diets. Finally, BO reduced the glucose (GLU) and INS, and HOMA-IR; and increased HDL-C, SOD, femoral weight, and BMD versus RO-containing normal diets. Conclusion: BOs with an appropriate fatty acid profile have beneficial effects on the glucolipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and bone quality of rats when included in both normal and high-fat diets.