Effects of Vitamin D Fortified Canola Oil on Vitamin D and Lipid Profiles in Healthy Adults: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial

Background and Objective: Improvement of vitamin D status can lead to cardiovascular health. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate effects of daily consumption of fortified canola oil with 1000 IU of vitamin D on serum concentrations of 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol and lipid profile of adults in Shiraz, Iran.  Materials and Methods: In this double-blind randomized trial, a total of 99 adults were randomly categorized to three groups of a) fortified oil (received 25 g of canola oil fortified with 1000 IU vitamin D and placebo daily), b) supplement (received 25 g of plain oil and 1000 IU of vitamin D supplement daily), and c) control (received 25 g of plain oil and placebo daily). Dietary intakes, anthropometric indices, serum concentrations of vitamin D and lipid profiles were assessed at the baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: Daily vitamin D supplementation significantly increased serum vitamin D concentration, compared to control group (p = 0.002). In participants with normal vitamin D status, vitamin D levels significantly increased in fortified oil and supplement groups, compared to control group (p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant differences were seen in lipid profile concentrations within the three groups. Conclusion: Consumption of vitamin D fortified canola oil is effective in maintaining vitamin D concentrations in people with normal vitamin D status with no beneficial or detrimental effects on lipid profiles.