EFFECTS OF VARYING PROPORTIONS OF DIETARY RAPESEED OIL ON THE RAT

Abstract

Rapeseed oil, corn oil, and mixtures of the two oils containing 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80% rapeseed oil were fed to weanling rats at levels of 10 and 20% by weight of the purified diet. A significant decrease in body weight gains and in food consumptions occurred with the two highest levels of rapeseed oil, that is, 16 and 20% by weight of the total diet. At the same levels there was an increased lipid excretion. Corn oil and rapeseed oil which had been heated to 200 °C. for 120 hours produced no changes in weight gains when fed at the 10% level, but exhibited some growth-retarding effects at the 20% level. At both levels heated corn oil and rapeseed oil increased the liver weight of male rats.