Lowering of platelet aggregation and serum eicosanoid levels in rats fed with a diet containing coconut oil blends with rice bran oil or sesame oil

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effects of feeding a diet containing blended and interesterified fat to rats on thrombotic parameters such as platelet aggregation and eicosanoid levels in blood serum. Male Wistar rats were fed with a diet containing 10% fat from native; coconut oil (CNO), rice bran oil (RBO), sesame oil (SESO), blended; (CNO+RBO blend (B), CNO+SESO(B), or interesterified oils; CNO+RBO interesterified (I), CNO+SESO(I) for a period of 60 days. Rats given a diet containing blended oil of CNO+RBO(B) or CNO+SESO(B) showed a decrease in rate of ADP induced aggregation of platelets by 34% and 30%, respectively, compared to those fed with CNO. Aggregation induced by collagen was also reduced similarly in rats given blended or interesterified oils of CNO with RBO or SESO. Feeding interesterified oil CNO+RBO(I), and CNO+SESO(I) to rats also resulted in decrease in rate of ADP induced platelet aggregation by 37% and 34%, respectively, compared to rats fed with CNO. The prostacyclin/thromboxane ratio in serum was increased in rats fed with blended and interesterified oil compared to those fed with CNO. These results indicated that CNO when blended or interesterified with RBO or SESO exhibit antithrombotic effects as compared to the effect observed by feeding rats with CNO.