Conjugated linoleic acid reduces early aortic atherosclerosis greater than linoleic acid in hypercholesterolemic hamsters

Thirty-six male F₁B hamsters, 10 weeks of age, were divided into 3 groups of 12 based on similar body weights. The experimental diets comprised of a chow-based hypercholesterolemic diet supplemented with 20% coconut oil, 2% safflower oil, and 0.12% cholesterol (HCD); the HCD plus either 1% CLA as the free fatty acid (CLA), or 1% LA as the free fatty acid (LA) and were fed for 12 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol (TC) and nonHDL-C (very low- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were significantly lower in the CLA and LA relative to the HCD (P < 0.05). The CLA had significantly less maximum number of dienes formed relative to the LA and HCD (P < 0.05). The CLA developed significantly less early aortic atherosclerosis relative to both the HCD and LA (P < 0.05). Thus it appears CLA reduces the development of early aortic atherosclerosis to a greater degree than LA possibly through changes in LDL oxidative susceptibility in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.