THE TYPE OF DIETARY POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS INFLUENCES HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN-MEDIATED CHOLESTEROL EFFLUX

We have examined the effects of dietary n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the composition of high density lipoproteins (HDL) in rabbits and on the ability of the HDL to promote cholesterol efflux from rabbit fibroblasts. We observed that HDL from rabbits fed MaxEPA oil contained significantly more unesterified cholesterol and cholesteryl ester than HDL from rabbits fed chow or chow plus safflower oil. The rate of net efflux of cholesterol from rabbit skin fibroblasts to medium containing HDL from animals fed chow plus MaxEPA oil was substantially greater than was seen when the medium contained HDL from rabbits fed chow alone or chow plus safflower oil . We suggest that the faster cholesterol efflux seen with HDL from animals fed MaxEPA oil supplements may account for some of the protection against coronary artery disease that has been reported for individuals consuming diets rich in marine mammals, fish or fish oils.