Dietary Marine Fish Oils and Cholesterol Metabolism 3. The Comparative Hypocholesterolemic Activities of Fish Oil and Vitamin A

Abstract

Certain fish liver oils, when present in the diet, prevented hypercholesterolemia in chicks produced by cholesterol feeding. The hypocholesterolemic activity of the oils was proportional to the amount incorporated into the diet. Vitamin A-enriched corn oil produced similar results but corn oil itself was without effect. It was concluded that vitamin A was responsible for 73 to 85% of the activity of the fish liver oil. The cause of the additional activity of the marine oils is at present unknown.