The effect of rice bran oil and safflower oil on serum lipids in the rat

This study examined the effect of dietary rice bran oil and safflower oil on serum levels of cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides in the male Sprague-Dawley rat. One group of 7 animals received a 10% rice bran oil diet, and a second group of 7 animals received a 10% safflower oil diet. Both groups of rats were fed the diets for a 21 day period. Type of oil had no effect on either food intake or growth. Animals fed safflower oil had non-significantly lower serum levels of all these lipid fractions measured, i.e., cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. Serum cholesterol levels were 9% lower, serum phospholipids were 10.4% lower, and serum triglycerides were 37.5% lower. The results, for this particular strain of rat, indicate that dietary safflower oil shows a trend towards giving lower serum lipid levels than rice bran oil.