Lard, palm oil and hydrogenated fish oil after a meal
What it found
In eight healthy men, meals made with lard, palm oil or partially hydrogenated fish oil led to similar levels of blood fats over the next eight hours.
The fish oil meal did not raise triglycerides more than the others, even though it was higher in trans fats.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood fats after meals
The rise in blood triglycerides, triglyceride-rich lipoprotein triglycerides, total cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acids was not significantly different between the three meals.
Long-chain fatty acids
After the fish oil meal, longer-chain fatty acids (C20-22, both cis and trans forms) did not build up noticeably in the triglyceride-rich lipoprotein fraction, even though they made up 40% of the fatty acids in that meal.
Expected fish oil effect
The authors had expected a higher triglyceride response after the fish oil meal because it had more trans fats, less polyunsaturated fat and similar saturated fat compared with the lard and palm oil meals.
Possible reason
The lack of a higher response after the fish oil meal could be due to less absorption and more breakdown of long-chain fatty acids, both cis and trans forms.
What the authors conclude
“The absence of a higher postprandial response following ingestion of PHFO could be as a result of reduced absorption and increased oxidation of long-chain fatty acids (both cis and trans isomers).”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the absence of a higher postprandial response following ingestion of PHFO could be as a result of reduced absorption and increased oxidation of long-chain fatty acids (both cis and trans isomers).
How it was done
Most research on trans fats and heart disease has looked at hydrogenated vegetable oils, even though trans fats are also made from hydrogenated fish oil.
Eight healthy men with normal cholesterol ate three meals, each containing 40 g of one fat: partially hydrogenated fish oil, palm oil or lard. They ate them in random order and gave blood samples at 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after each meal.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a small study in eight healthy men with normal cholesterol, so the results may not apply to women, people with high cholesterol or other groups.
- The study only looked at one meal and eight hours afterwards, so it cannot show what happens with long-term eating habits.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Dublin Institute of Technology, Republic of Ireland
The paper
- Title
- Acute postprandial effect of hydrogenated fish oil, palm oil and lard on plasma cholesterol, triacylglycerol and non-esterified fatty acid metabolism in normocholesterolaemic males
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Cantwell MM, Flynn MA, Gibney MJ (2006). Acute postprandial effect of hydrogenated fish oil, palm oil and lard on plasma cholesterol, triacylglycerol and non-esterified fatty acid metabolism in normocholesterolaemic males. The British journal of nutrition. doi:10.1079/bjn20051723PubMed 16571159DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error