EN
Dietary fatty acids (FA) may affect in different ways the cholesterol level in animal organism. It is generally accepted that the saturated fatty acids of medium long chain (lauric, miristic, palmitic acids) are hyper-, whereas the polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic) are hypocholesterolemic. There is no conclusive evidence regarding the effect of stearic (saturated, long-chain FA) and monounsaturated FA (mainly oleic acid). A vast body of experimental evidence indicates that the stearic acid is neutral or hypocholesterolemic at least when compared to the palmitic acid. Oleic acid is rather hypocholesterolemic but its activity depends on the source of fat. It seems to be more hypocholesterolemic in rapeseed oil than in the olive oil.