The Effect of Some Marine Oils and Squalene on the Plasma Cholesterol in Chicks

Abstract

The effect of some fish oils on the plasma-cholesterol level of chicks were studied in eleven experiments. Soya- bean oil, margarine fat and squalene were also included in the study. Arachis oil was used as a reference in all experiments. In experiments with added cholesterol, cod liver oil usually showed lowered values compared with arachis oil and no fat added, but the effect varied greatly. Thus no final conclusions could be drawn. Soya-bean oil did not show any effect compared with arachis oil, whereas basking shark liver oil, dogfish liver oil and squalene lowered the cholesterol level. Methyl ester fractions of cod liver oil with iodine numbers ranging from 78 to 254 were without effect. In experiments without added cholesterol, cod liver oil in most cases gave significantly lower cholesterol levels than did arachis oil. This effect was also observed for herring oil, dogfish liver oil, basking shark liver oil and squalene.