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Maternal nutrition is an important factor for infant neurodevelopment. However, prior magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies on maternal nutrients and infant brain have focused mostly on preterm infants or on few specific nutrients and few specific brain regions. We present a first study in term-born infants, comprehensively correlating 73 maternal nutrients with infant brain morphometry at the regional (61 regions) and voxel (over 300 000 voxel) levels. Both maternal nutrition intake diaries and infant MRI were collected at 1 month of life (0.9 ± 0.5 months) for 92 term-born infants (among them, 54 infants were purely breastfed and 19 were breastfed most of the time). Intake of nutrients was assessed via standardized food frequency questionnaire. No nutrient was significantly correlated with any of the volumes of the 61 autosegmented brain regions. However, increased volumes within subregions of the frontal cortex and corpus callosum at the voxel level were positively correlated with maternal intake of omega-3 fatty acids, retinol (vitamin A) and vitamin B12, both with and without correction for postmenstrual age and sex (P

Breastmilk provides key nutrients and bio-active factors that contribute to infant neurodevelopment. Optimizing maternal nutrition could provide further benefit to psychomotor outcomes. Our observational cohort pilot study aims to determine if breastfeeding extent and breastmilk nutrients correlate with psychomotor outcomes at school age. The breastfeeding proportion at 3 months of age and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3–5 years of age were recorded for 33 typically developing newborns born after uncomplicated pregnancies. The association between categorical breastfeeding proportion and neurodevelopmental outcome scores was determined for the cohort using a Spearman correlation with and without the inclusion of parental factors. Vitamin E and carotenoid levels were determined in breastmilk samples from 14 of the mothers. After the inclusion of parental education and income as covariates, motor skill scores positively correlated with breastmilk contents of α-tocopherol (Spearman coefficient 0.88, p-value = 0.02), translutein (0.98, p-value = 0.0007), total lutein (0.92, p-value = 0.01), and zeaxanthin (0.93, p-value = 0.0068). Problem solving skills negatively correlated with the levels of the RSR enantiomer of α-tocopherol (−0.86, p-value = 0.03). Overall, higher exposure to breastfeeding was associated with improved gross motor and problem-solving skills at 3–5 years of age. The potential of α-tocopherol, lutein, and zeaxanthin intake to provide neurodevelopmental benefit is worthy of further investigation.

Pregnancy and lactation can change the maternal nutrient reserve. Non-invasive, quantitative markers of maternal nutrient intake could enable personalized dietary recommendations that improve health outcomes in mothers and infants. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) is a candidate marker, as MPOD values generally reflect carotenoid intake. We evaluated the association of MPOD with dietary and breastmilk carotenoids in postpartum women. MPOD measurements and dietary intake of five carotenoids were obtained from 80 mothers in the first three months postpartum. Breastmilk samples from a subset of mothers were analyzed to determine their nutrient composition. The association between MPOD and dietary or breastmilk carotenoids was quantitatively assessed to better understand the availability and mobilization of carotenoids. Our results showed that dietary α-carotene was positively correlated with MPOD. Of the breastmilk carotenoids, 13-cis-lutein and trans-lutein were correlated with MPOD when controlled for the total lutein in breastmilk. Other carotenoids in breastmilk were not associated with MPOD. Maternal MPOD is positively correlated with dietary intake of α-carotene in the early postpartum period, as well as with the breastmilk content of lutein. MPOD may serve as a potential marker for the intake of carotenoids, especially α-carotene, in mothers in the early postpartum period.

Summary The addition of NaFeEDTA at only 5% of total iron to ferric pyrophosphate-fortified Ultra Rice® increased the in vitro soluble iron ten-fold. Ultra Rice® formulated with NaFeEDTA at 2–7% of total iron, or with Na2EDTA·2H2O at 0.5× the total iron equivalents, increased the soluble iron seven- to thirty-fold. The colour of the batches was acceptable through 20 weeks at 21 °C, but colour stability needs to be evaluated under authentic storage conditions. Although only 34–46% of the initial vitamin A remained after extrusion, 18-week storage at 30 °C/70% relative humidity, and simulated cooking, there were indications that losses could be decreased by raising the pH (to ~5) and/or using a better protected vitamin A ingredient. The enhancement of soluble iron afforded by low-level NaFeEDTA or Na2EDTA·2H2O supplementation suggests that this fortification strategy may merit further study as a means of increasing absorbable iron in Ultra Rice®.

Background: Meta-analysis studies have documented that palm olein (PALM) predominant formulas reduce calcium and fat absorption, and bone mineralization in infants, but none have been documented for stool consistency and frequency. Objective: The study objective was to conduct a meta-analysis of published randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on the effect of PALM-based formulas on stool consistency and frequency in infants. Design: A literature search was conducted in BIOSIS Previews®, Embase®, Embase® Alert, MEDLINE® and Cochrane databases. PALM-based RCTs with available stool outcomes were selected and meta-analyzed. Mean rank stool consistency (MRSC, primary outcome) and stool frequency (secondary outcome) were compared between infants fed PALM-based and PALM-free formulas (NoPALM), using random effects model. Results: Nine out of identified16 studies were meta-analyzed. The mean MRSC (scale of 1 = watery to 5 = hard) in the NoPALM-fed infants was lower (softer stools) compared to the PALM-fed infants (mean difference ‒0.355, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] of ‒0.472 to ‒0.239, p < 0.001). Difference for stool frequency was not significant (p = 0.613). Conclusion: Meta-analysis of RCTs indicated that NoPALM-fed infants have significantly softer stools but similar stool frequencies versus PALM-fed infants, despite differences in study types and design. Future meta-analysis could benefit from including comparison with human milk-fed infants.

Spit-up (regurgitation) reduction with prethickened milk protein-based infant formulas containing rice starch has been clinically demonstrated in infants with heavy spit-ups but not in otherwise healthy normal infants with common spit-ups. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth, gastrointestinal tolerance, and efficacy to reduce common spit-up in normal, healthy term infants fed an investigational rice starch prethickened lactose-free milk protein-based infant formula.This double-blind, randomized, parallel study evaluated the investigational rice starch prethickened lactose-free (low lactose100 mg/L) milk protein-based infant formula compared to a standard, commercially available, iso-nutrient, lactose-containing (100% of carbohydrate) milk-based infant formula (control) for growth and gastrointestinal tolerance in healthy term infants (n = 132/group) fed from 14 ± 3 days to 112 days of age. Data were classified and analyzed as evaluable (EV; subjects completing study per protocol) or intent-to-treat data (ITT; all subjects with available data).Growth as indicated by weight gain (primary variable) and formula intake were not significantly different (p0.05) between feeding groups (EV or ITT). Though both formulas were well tolerated, spit-up frequency was significantly lower (p0.05) in the rice versus control group by 53% at 28 days of age, 54% at 56 days, 48% at 84 days, and 32% at 112 days (EV). Importantly, infants in the rice group were 1.6 to 1.8 times more likely to report zero spit-up than infants in the control group. The rice group also had higher percentages of soft and yellow stools.The rice starch prethickened lactose-free milk protein-based formula (rice) supported normal growth and safe use as the sole source of feeding for normal infants over the first 4 months of life. The rice formula was efficacious in providing a clinically relevant reduction of spit-up frequency in otherwise healthy term infants.

A simple in vitro assay for the determination of soluble iron in fortified rice analogue/natural rice blends is described. The soluble iron, measured as an indicator of iron bioavailability, is quantified by FerroZine™ colorimetry of the supernatant obtained after simulated gastric (pepsin) and intestinal (pancreatin) digestions. Method suitability was defined by assessments of linearity (R 2 average=0.9999±0.0001, and low standard residual average=+0.6±0.9 %; n=17), precision (day-to-day RSD values [n=3 days] ranged from 5.3 % to 75 % for concentrations from 0.017 to 0.585 mg per 100 g of fortified rice analogue/natural rice blend), accuracy (spike recovery=97.5±0.4 %, n=4, spiking level=0.2 to 0.8 mg/l; and linear response of the digest plot [R 2=1.0000] vs. the standard solution plot [R 2=1.0000]), and selectivity (absence of interference from Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn; reagent blank correction for minimal bias by Cu). The assay provides for a reliable quantification of the soluble iron in fortified rice analogue/natural rice blends. The assay is regarded not as a substitute for in vivo determination of iron absorption, but instead as a tool for identifying formulation, extrusion, and storage issues that are worthy of formal in vivo study. In this connection, application of the assay to fortified rice analogue/natural rice blends and to experimental rice flour preparations has identified potential agents of iron absorption enhancement (e.g., NaFeEDTA at only 2 % of total iron), and of iron absorption inhibition (zinc).

Objective. Palm and palm olein (PO) oils are used in some infant formula fat blends to match the fatty acid profile of human milk, but their presence has been shown to lower calcium and fat absorption. We aimed to determine if the reported differences in calcium absorption could affect skeletal development by comparing bone mineral accretion in healthy term infants fed a milk-based formula with (PMF) or without PO. Methods. Whole body bone mineralization was evaluated in healthy term infants fed 1 of 2 coded, commercially available, ready-to-feed infant formulas in a randomized, double-blind, parallel study. Subjects were fed either 1) PMF formula (Enfamil with iron; Mead Johnson Division of Bristol Myers, Evansville, IN; N = 63) containing PO/coconut/soy/high-oleic sunflower oils (45/20/20/15% oil); or 2) milk-based formula without PO (Similac with iron; Ross Products Division Abbott Laboratories, Columbus, OH; N = 65), containing high-oleic safflower/coconut/soy oils (40/30/30% oil) from enrollment by 2 weeks after birth until 6 months. Anthropometrics and formula intake were determined monthly; total body bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured at baseline, 3, and 6 months of age using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated no significant differences between feeding groups in weight, length, head circumference, or formula intake throughout the study. BMC and BMD were not different at baseline but repeated measures analyses show that infants fed PMF had significantly lower BMC and BMD at 3 and 6 months. Conclusions. Healthy term infants fed a formula containing PO as the predominant oil in the fat blend had significantly lower BMC and BMD than those fed a formula without PO. The inclusion of PO in infant formula at levels needed to provide a fatty acid profile similar to that of human milk leads to lower bone mineralization.

Objectives: We investigated effects of monoacylglyceride (MG) and free fatty acids (end products of fat hydrolysis in the gut) inclusion in infant formula’s fat-blend on calcium and fat absorption....

Our objective was to determine the nutritional effects of defined fat fractions of modified milk fat, or butterfat (anhydrous butter without the milk fat globule membrane) on lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in plasma of rats fed diets containing 16% fat and two amounts of cholesterol. Five dietary fats were compared: 1) intact butterfat, 2) a liquid butterfat fraction enriched in oleic acid and unsaturated triacylglycerols with < 40 carbon atoms, 3) a solid butterfat fraction enriched in palmitic and stearic acids, 4) corn oil, and 5) palm oil. The extent of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia was the greatest with palm oil, followed by solid butterfat, corn oil, intact butterfat, and the lowest with liquid butterfat. Triacylglycerol concentrations in plasma were greater for rats fed palm oil than for those fed corn oil or liquid or intact butterfat. Among the high cholesterol dietary groups, ingestion of the liquid butterfat diet resulted in similar lipoprotein cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein concentrations relative to the corn oil diet, and ingestion of the solid butterfat diet resulted in similar lipoprotein cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein concentrations relative to the palm oil diet. These results suggest that changes in the triacylglycerol and fatty acid composition of butterfat by fractionation processes may improve its nutritional profile.

The cholesterol reducing properties of soy proteins and products have been overwhelmingly demonstrated. However, those of other legumes, especially pulse proteins have been neglected. The golden or yellow pea (Pisum sativum) protein is a pulse protein of similar nutritional quality to soy protein. To demonstrate its cholesterol reducing properties, we evaluated the plasma lipid lowering influence of dietary golden pea protein (P), casein (C), pea protein + cholesterol (PC) and casein + cholesterol (CC) at 20% dietary protein in matured male Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 272 + 3g) fed for 4 weeks (N = 10 rats/group). Results indicated that dietary pea proteins significantly (p 0.05) lower in rats fed pea proteins than those fed casein. Apo Al levels were lower in rats fed pea proteins than in rats fed casein. In conclusion, this study suggest that dietary golden pea proteins may reduce plasma cholesterol and TG compared to dietary casein.

Lactose, the major carbohydrate in human milk and standard milk—based formulas, provides energy for growth in infants. The use of lactose-free milk protein—based infant formulas has increased in the United States. However, clinical studies of their impact on growth, safety, and gastrointestinal tolerance in infants are limited. Thus, a prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial was conducted in healthy, normal-term infants fed an experimental lactose-free milk protein—based formula (NoLAC; n = 63) versus a standard commercial lactose-containing milk-based formula (LAC; n = 65) for 112 days. Growth (weight, length, and head circumference) was similar and normal in both groups (weight gain: NoLAC = 31.1 ± 0.9 g/day, LAC = 29.4 ± 0.9 g/day, mean ± SEM; P = .895). Serum biochemistries for both groups were within infants’ normal reference ranges. Both groups had comparable tolerance but the NoLAC group had softer stools and lower spit-ups. Thus, the study suggests that absence of lactose in milk-based formula does not adversely affect normal growth in term infants.

The relationship between in vivo triglyceride secretion and the concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides in liver and plasma was studied in fasted, male Sprague Dawley rats (150–170 g) fed 16% fat diets containing 8–16% medium chain triglycerides (68% C 8:0 and 24% C 10:0), 14% tripelargonate (C 9:0), or corn oil. Plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations were 10–20% lower ( P P P

The effects of feeding olive and safflower oils on lipid and fatty acid composition of mammary tumors, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of plasma were investigated in rats. 7-12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)- and placebo-intubated male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 20% fat diets containing 18:2n-6 (wt/wt) from either high-linoleic safflower oil (SL, 14.6% 18:2n-6), high oleic safflower oil (SO, 3.4% 18:2n-6), olive oil (OO, 1.1% 18:2n-6), or olive oil supplemented with 18:2n-6 (OL, 3.4% 18:2n-6) for 16 weeks. Our result indicated that tumor composition of 18:1n-9 and 18:2n-6 reflected the diet, but tumor neutral lipid (NL) was more reflective of diet than was tumor phospholipid (PL). The 20:4n-6 content of tumor PL was constant in all of the dietary groups despite threefold higher levels of 18:2n-6 in tumor PL from animals fed SL than from those fed SO, OO, or OL diets. This suggests a possible feedback inhibition of delta 6-desaturase by the higher content of 18:2n-6 associated with SL feeding No diet effects were obtained for tumor total lipid, NL, PL, cholesterol, and triglyceride contents. Plasma lipoprotein changes were more reflective of diet than tumorigenesis except for apolipoprotein-E, which was lower, and for very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipo protein, which were higher in tumor-bearing rats. Plasma NMR analysis indicated no difference in the average line widths of the methyl and methylene resonances for tumor-bearing and nontumor-bearing rats fed any of the diets.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate growth, tolerance and plasma biochemistries in infants fed an experimental rice protein-based infant formula. DESIGN: Randomized, blinded, 16 week parallel feeding trial of 65 healthy infants fed either an experimental partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based infant formula fortified with lysine and threonine (RPF, n = 32), or a standard intact cow's milk protein-based formula (CMF, n = 33) as a control. Assessments occurred at enrollment (average 2 days), 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks of age. RESULTS: Growth as indicated by weight, length, and head circumference was not different between the 2 formula groups. All plasma biochemistries for both groups were within reference normal range. However, RPF group had lower phosphorus and urea nitrogen, lower essential amino acids except threonine, which was higher, and lower ratio of essential (including semi-essential) to non-essential amino acids. Differences in the concentrations and ratios of amino acids became less as feeding progressed with age. Plasma total protein, albumin, prealbumin, calcium, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase were not different between groups. CONCLUSION: Healthy infants fed an experimental partially hydrolyzed rice protein-based formula had normal growth, tolerance, and plasma biochemistry comparable to those of infants fed a standard intact milk protein-based formula, despite some differences in amino acid profiles.

Few studies have measured long-term growth in infants fed soy protein-based formulas. The effect of nucleotide (NT) supplementation of soy protein-based infant formulas on growth is unknown. Growth was therefore evaluated in healthy term infants fed a soy protein-based formula (SOY; n=73), SOY with added NT (72 mg added NT/L) at human milk (HM) levels (SOYN, n=73), or mixed feeding (MF, n=67) in a randomized, masked, parallel 1-year feeding study. The MF group (a nonrandomized reference group) was fed HM exclusively from birth to 2 months of age followed by HM and/or a standard milk-based formula (Similac® with Iron with no supplemental NTs) to 1 year of age. Results indicated that growth (weight, length, and head circumference) was normal and comparable among the three groups. All three groups had similar plasma albumin (at 2 months of age) and hemoglobin levels (at 12 months of age). Thus, this study demonstrated similar growth in the first year of life among infants fed MF feeding or soy formula with or without supplemental NTs.

Energy expenditure was determined in male Fischer 344 rats (235-246 g) fed by intravenous (IV) or intragastric (IG) infusion with total parenteral nutrition solutions providing 65% of nonprotein energy as fat from long-chain triglyceride (LCT) or a 3:1 admixture of medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) and LCT emulsions. Respiratory gas exchange and somatomotor activity were assessed continuously for 24 h during d 5 and 11 of infusion feeding. The MCT infusion resulted in one-third the weight gain noted with LCT infusion (MCT, 10 +/- 2 g/14 d; LCT, 32 +/- 4 g/14 d; P less than 0.0001). Insulin concentration was 60% higher with IV than with IG infusion and approximately 100% higher with IV-MCT than with IG-MCT or LCT infusion (P less than 0.05). Rats receiving IV infusion of MCT displayed similar levels of motor activity but 8-13% greater daily energy expenditure (kJ.kg-0.75.kJ intake-1) than rats receiving IG-MCT or LCT infusion (P less than 0.05). The MCT infusion also resulted in an elevation in respiratory quotient after cessation of nutrient infusion (MCT, 0.87-0.92; LCT, 0.83-0.85; P less than 0.05). Total and resting energy expenditure decreased approximately 13% from 5 to 11 d of infusion feeding. The lower weight gain and greater energy expenditure seen with MCT- compared with LCT-supplemented total parenteral nutrition may be mediated by higher insulin concentrations.

We investigated the relative effects of different dietary saturated fats on the size distribution, apolipoprotein (apo) and chemical composition of HDL in fasted rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (174 +/- 2 g) were fed diets containing 0.035% cholesterol and 16% fat (wt/wt) from corn oil (CO diet) or from 2% CO plus 14% butterfat (BF diet), beef tallow (BT diet), palm oil (PO diet) or coconut oil (CN diet) for 6 wk. Apparent lipid digestibility was significantly lower with the PO and BT diets vs. the CO, BF and CN diets. Plasma total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in rats fed the PO and BT diets than in rats fed the BF and CN diets but were not different among the PO-, BT- and CO-fed groups. Nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis immunoblot analysis indicated that HDL apo A-I and E resided on particles with significantly smaller modal diameters in rats fed all saturated fats compared with those fed the CO diet. Chemical analyses indicated that HDL generally contained proportionately less protein and more triglyceride, free cholesterol and apo E with saturated fat feeding than with CO diet feeding. Significantly higher plasma and VLDL triglyceride levels were noted with ingestion of the BT, PO or CN diet than with the CO diet. Butterfat feeding resulted in lower plasma triglycerides and HDL-esterified cholesterol than did feeding the other saturated fats. Very low density lipoprotein triglyceride concentrations were inversely correlated with HDL modal diameter of apo E containing lipoproteins (P less than 0.005). These data provide further evidence of the interrelationship of triglyceride and HDL metabolism and suggest that mechanisms independent of cholesterol ester transfer protein may mediate this response in rats.

Interpretation of studies comparing the efficacy of different dietary fat sources in promoting 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis often ignores the fact that about 4% (wt/wt) linoleic acid (18:2n-6) is required for optimal tumor promotion. We therefore fed DMBA-intubated or placebo-intubated female, Sprague-Dawley rats 20% fat diets containing 18:2n-6 (wt/wt) from either high-linoleic safflower oil (SL, 14.6% 18:2n-6), high-oleic safflower oil (SO, 3.4% 18:2n-6), olive oil (OO, 1.1% 18:2n-6), or OO supplemented with 18:2n-6 (OL, 3.4% 18:2n-6) for 16 weeks. Results indicated that OO-fed rats had longer tumor-free time, fewer tumors per rat, and lower tumor incidence compared with SO and OL. Addition of 2.3% 18:2n-6 to OO enhanced tumor promotion (p less than 0.04); SL, SO, and OL demonstrated similar tumor-enhancement effect. About 74% of observed mammary tumors were adenocarcinomas; a greater number of tumors appeared in the thoracic and inguinal than in the cervical and abdominal regions irrespective of diet. These results indicate that once an optimal amount of linoleic acid is provided in the diet, oleic- or linoleic-rich oils have similar effects on promotion of mammary tumors in the rat.

We have reported that bone mineralization at 1 y of age correlates with the age infants started walking, weight, height and calcium intake during infancy. It is unknown if this relationship extends to a later age. We hypothesized that bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) in 3-5.5 y old children are affected by calcium intake at 6-12 mos of age. We evaluated total body BMC and BMD at 3-5.5 y of age in 41 healthy children previously fed one of 3 infant formulas containing different calcium contents (A=450, B=510, C=912 mg/L calcium) at 6-12 mos of age. BMC and BMD at 3-5.5 y of age were similar among the 3 study groups despite differences in calcium intake at 6-12 mos of age. BMC for A groups were (mean-+ SFM) 29.6 +- 0.7, 29.3 +- 0.6, and 29.6 +- 0.8 g/kg body weight, respectively. There were no significant correlations between BMC or BMD and previous calcium intake. BMC and BMD were positively correlated(p

Plasma lipoprotein composition and hepatic lipid content were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats (104 +/- 2 g) fed diets containing 12% olive oil [OO, 70% 18:1(n-9)], 12% high oleic safflower oil [SO, 70% 18:(ln-9)] or 12% high linoleic safflower oil [SL, 73% 18:2(n-6)] for periods of up to 10 wk. Fasting plasma triglycerides were significantly higher after feeding oleic-rich diets than after feeding SL for 3, 5 and 6 wk. At 6 wk VLDL triglycerides were two- to threefold higher in rats fed OO or SO than in those fed SL, but by 10 wk both plasma and VLDL triglycerides were similar. A greater proportion of HDL2 (diameter 8.0-12.1 nm), a lower proportion of HDL1 (diameter 12.2-17.0 nm) and lower HDL apo E content occurred in rats fed OO and SO than in those fed SL at both 6 and 10 wk. LDL and HDL protein and cholesterol concentrations were not different with feeding SO or SL. After 10 wk of feeding the experimental diets, rats fed OO had significantly lower HDL protein, cholesterol and apo E concentrations and significantly higher hepatic triglyceride content compared to rats fed SO or SL, P less than 0.05. These data suggest that HDL and hepatic lipid content are determined by some property of the dietary oil other than its oleic acid content.

The effect of oat fiber on VLDL, LDL and HDL composition was investigated by feeding male Sprague-Dawley rats diets containing 1.0% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid, and 6% dietary fiber from oat bran, high-fiber oat flour or a processed oat product for 20 d. Compared to cholesterol-fed cellulose controls, all oat fibers altered the response to cholesterol feeding as indicated by 25-45% lower total lipoprotein cholesterol, 40-60% lower VLDL + LDL cholesterol, and 25-40% higher HDL cholesterol contents, P less than 0.01. The effect of the oat fibers on VLDL composition was especially pronounced as demonstrated by 30-65% lower VLDL protein, VLDL apo E and plasma apo B concentrations. The processed oat product which contained 40% more soluble fiber than oat bran or oat flour normalized the lipoprotein profile associated with ingestion of the atherogenic diet significantly more than oat bran or oat flour. Concentration of total lipoprotein cholesterol and distribution of apo E among the VLDL and LDL fractions in the processed oat product group were similar to controls not fed cholesterol. These data indicate that ingestion of oat fiber tends to normalize the lipoprotein profile induced by feeding an atherogenic diet in the rat, and that the hypocholesterolemic effect of oat fiber is associated with its soluble fiber content.

The effect of dietary fat on the long-chain acyl-CoA ester profile of liver and skeletal muscle was investigated by feeding weanling rats 12%-fat diets composed of high-linoleic safflower oil (73% 18:2n-6), high-oleic safflower oil (70% 18:1n-9) or olive oil (70% 18:1n-9) for six and ten weeks. Approximately 50% of both hepatic and skeletal muscle acyl-CoA esters comprised linoleoyl-CoA or oleoyl-CoA with high-linoleic or oleic feeding, respectively. Total hepatic acyl-CoA ester concentration was 40% higher (p less than 0.05) in rats fed 12% fat compared with controls fed a 4%-fat diet. These data demonstrate that the long-chain acyl-CoA ester profile of liver and skeletal muscle reflects the dietary fatty acid profile.