DiŠerential EŠect of Walnut Oil and SaŒower Oil on the Serum Cholesterol Level and Lesion Area in the Aortic Root of Apolipoprotein E-deˆcient Mice

Walnut oil (WO) is a good source of a-linolenic acid. We compared the eŠects of WO and high-linoleic saŒower oil (HLSO) on the serum lipid level and atherosclerosis development in male and female apolipoprotein (apo) E-deˆcient mice. The WO diet resulted in a higher level of serum cholesterol than with HLSO. Female mice fed on the WO diet had a greater lesion area in the aortic root than did those on the HLSO diet. There was no diet-dependent diŠerence in the level of cholesterol and its oxidation products in the abdominal and thoracic aorta. These results suggest that the unpleasant eŠects of the WO diet on apo E-deˆcient mice may be attributable to a-linolenic acid.