Cholesterol metabolism in relation to aging and dietary fat in rats and humans

A review of research in the authors' laboratories regarding effects of dietary fat polyunsaturation upon longevity in rats and some aspects of the regulation of cholesterol metabolism with regard to age of rats and humans is presented. The longevity of the rat was found to be enhanced by consumption of dietary fat providing a polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio of 0.3 to 1, corresponding to about 5-12% of energy (en%) as linoleate, compared with less or more polyunsaturated fat. Mechanisms of the effects of the fats upon cholesterol metabolism were studied. With advancing age, there seems to be a decline in the rate of catabolism of cholesterol, resulting in longer retention in the body of the rat. In the human, there seems to be a decline in regulation of uptake of cholesterol by leukocytes and, therefore, perhaps other tissues, resulting in increased synthesis of cholesterol by the peripheral tissues. Moderate rather than high dietary consumption of polyunsaturated fat seems to be favorable to metabolic processes contributing to longevity.