Coconut oil and sesame oil affect lymphatic absorption of cholesterol and fatty acids in rats

Five groups of male Wistar rats weighing ~200 g consumed 12 or 24% sesame oil or coconut oil diets or a control diet (14% corn oil) ad libitum for 4 wk. The thoracic ducts of these rats were cannulated, and a lipid emulsion containing [³H]cholesterol and [¹⁴C]oleic acid was given through a duodenal catheter. Lymph was collected for 24 h and the isotopic tracers for cholesterol and fatty acid were measured. Rats fed the 24% sesame oil diet had significantly lower lymphatic cholesterol and fatty acid compared with the control group. Absorption of oleic acid in rats fed 24% coconut oil was significantly greater than in controls during 0-8 h but was not significantly different during 0-24 h. There were no differences among groups in the distribution of cholesterol and oleic acid either in the lymph lipoproteins or in the lipid classes. The significant reduction in lymph cholesterol and fatty acids due to sesame oil feeding may be an important factor in reducing hypercholesterolemia.