HDL biology
Oleic acid, unlike linoleic acid, blocks the cholesterol-induced rise in CETP activity in hamsters (Atherosclerosis 1995)
Original title: Comparison of hypocholesterolemic effects induced by dietary linoleic acid and oleic acid in hamsters
Hamsters were fed a 0.1% cholesterol-supplemented diet with or without 5% linoleic acid or oleic acid to compare the mechanisms behind their hypocholesterolemic effects. Both fatty acids diminished the rise in plasma total and LDL cholesterol caused by dietary cholesterol, but linoleic acid also lowered HDL cholesterol relative to cholesterol alone while oleic acid did not. Both fatty acids prevented cholesterol-induced hepatic LDL receptor suppression, with linoleic acid more effective, but only oleic acid prevented the cholesterol-induced increase in plasma CETP activity, while linoleic acid did not. Neither fatty acid altered hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity, and only oleic acid increased hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity. The authors conclude that linoleic and oleic acids each diminish cholesterol-induced increases in plasma LDL-cholesterol by preventing hepatic LDL receptor suppression, with oleic acid additionally acting by preventing the rise in CETP activity.
Original abstract
We investigated the differences between the hypocholesterolemic effects induced by dietary linoleic acid and those induced by oleic acid in hamsters. Addition of 5% linoleic acid or oleic acid to a 0.1% cholesterol-supplemented diet diminished the increases in plasma total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol induced by cholesterol alone. Linoleic acid decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in comparison with cholesterol alone, whereas oleic acid did not. As compared with a standard diet or a cholesterol-supplemented diet, linoleic acid and oleic acid each prevented hepatic LDL receptor suppression, although linoleic acid was more effective. Oleic acid prevented the increase in plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity induced by dietary cholesterol, whereas linoleic acid did not. Neither linoleic acid nor oleic acid altered hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase activity. Only oleic acid increased hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity. These results suggest that dietary linoleic and oleic acids diminish the cholesterol-induced increases in plasma total and LDL-cholesterol by preventing hepatic LDL receptor suppression, and in the case of oleic acid by also preventing the increase in the plasma CETP activity. These effects on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity may influence bile lipid metabolism.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.