Disappearance of depot fat in rats fed extremely hydrogenated oils

Antoni Horst ¹, Izydor Kaganowicz ¹, Irwina Zagórska ¹, and Danuta Roynkowa ¹

¹ Department of Experimental Pathology, Medical Academy, Pozna; and Institute of Fat Industry, Warszawa, Poland

Male adult albino rats fed ad libitum diets containing 50% extremely saturated vegetable fats (rape seed oil, iodine value 4 and soya bean oil, iodine value 9) showed marked weight reduction, with disappearance of body fat within a period of 6 weeks. The depot fat was not restored after 10 weeks of refeeding a control diet. The mechanism by which extremely saturated fats cause depletion of body fat cannot yet be clearly defined. Further investigations concerning the caloric balance, digestibility, and utilization of fats and carbohydrates are necessary. A possible explanation of the results is that extremely hydrogenated fats may inhibit lipogenesis from carbohydrates.