Alterations in atherogenic indices and hypolipidemic effect of soybean oil in normocholesteremic rats

The cardiovascular protective and hypolipidemia effects of soybean oil were investigated in normocholesteremic rats. Diets were prepared and designed to contain 50 % of energy as carbohydrate, 35 % as fat, and 15 % as protein. Groups of six rats were each fed one of these diets, while a group was fed pelletized mouse chow which served as the control. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) was observed in the cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels of the soybean oil fed group. There was no significant alteration in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels of all the groups. The studied atherogenic indices were significantly low in the soybean oil fed group compared to the other groups. These results indicate a protective effect of soybean oil against the development of cardiovascular disease as well as the hyperlipidemia that characterize obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.