THE EFFECT OF DIETARY MARINE FISH OILS ON THE SERUM CHOLESTEROL LEVELS IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC CHICKENS

Abstract

An investigation was carried out into the effect of marine fish oils on the serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic chickens. The oils were fed at the 10% level in the diet. Lingcod liver oil and halibut liver oil prevented the hypercholesterolemic effect of supplementary cholesterol, whereas crude herring oil increased the hypercholesterolemia to the same extent as did corn oil and tallow. Ratfish liver oil, dogfish liver oil, and basking shark liver oil had less noticeable effects on the cholesterol levels. No clear explanation could be given for the observed behavior but there seemed to be a difference in the effects on serum cholesterol of liver oils from teleostei fish and from selachii fish, the former class of liver oils being much more potent in preventing the increase in serum cholesterol concentration in chickens caused by the addition of cholesterol to the diet.