[The antiatherogenic action of plant oils with added omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids]

Quick model of experimental atherosclerosis--3 weeks of cholesterol feeding and 3 weeks of standard diet for aorta atheromatosis development--was used in rabbits. Then one group of animals was fed 1 month by plant oil of specific composition, with added omega-3 (linolenic) fatty acid, and the other group received the same dose of fish oil. The most intensive decrease of plasma cholesterol and erythrocyte cholesterol/phospholipid ratio was in rabbits, that received the oil with linolenic acid. Triglyceride level decreased gradually in all animal groups in the same degree, and HOL cholesterol did not change. After the end of experiment the aorta damage degree in group, that received plant oil with linolenic acid, was only 10.8%, as compared with 36.2% in control group (without treatment) and 39.3% in rabbits, that received fish oil. The absence of fish oil effect supports the earlier data about rabbits specific sensitivity to this product resulting in possible hepatotoxic effect. The data indicates on the usefulness of rabbit model in fish oil effects investigations, and also on the positive, antiatherogenic effect of plant oil with added linolenic acid.