High intake of polyunsaturated fat may lower the risk of developing coronary artery atherosclerosis in African green monkeys.
This study evaluated the relationship between the consumption of monounsaturated, saturated, and polyunsaturated fat and coronary artery atherosclerosis development. Researchers fed 3 groups of African green monkeys with diets rich in saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. Atherosclerosis was assessed in each monkey by measuring the intima area of the coronary artery before and after dietary intervention.
Researchers observed that the monkeys fed with polyunsaturated fat had less atherosclerosis in their coronary artery than those fed with monounsaturated and saturated fat. The Highest serum concentrations of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and the lowest plasma levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) were found in the groups given polyunsaturated fat- and saturated fat-rich meals respectively. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that high consumption of diets rich in polyunsaturated fats is associated with low coronary artery atherosclerosis risk.