Cut Fat by Choosing Canola

Characterized by central obesity, hypertension, and adverse glucose and insulin metabolism, Metabolic Syndrome is a condition associated with increased risk of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.  Penny Kris-Etherton, from Pennsylvania State University (Pennsylvania, USA), and colleagues enrolled 121 participants at risk for metabolic syndrome in study where subjects consumed a daily smoothie containing 40 grams (1.42 ounces) of one of five oils as part of a weight maintenance, heart-healthy, 2000-calorie per day diet. Members of the group had five risk factors characterized by increased belly fat, low HDL cholesterol and above average blood sugar, blood pressure and triglycerides that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The researchers repeated this process for the remaining four oils.   Subjects who consumed canola or high-oleic canola oils on a daily basis for four weeks lowered their belly fat by 1.6%, compared to those who consumed a flax/safflower oil blend. Abdominal fat was unchanged by the other two oils, which included a corn/safflower oil blend and high-oleic canola oil enriched with an algal source of the omega-3 DHA. Both the flax/safflower and corn/safflower oil blends were low in monounsaturated fat.  The lead investigator commented that: “The monounsaturated fats in [canola] oils appear to reduce abdominal fat, which in turn may decrease metabolic syndrome risk factors.”