Cocoa butter, palm olein and olive oil compared for blood fats
What it found
In young healthy Chinese people, cocoa butter had almost the same effect on blood fats as palm olein and extra virgin olive oil.
Most measures did not differ between the three oils.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood fats overall
Most indices did not significantly differ among the three test oil diets. The authors say palm olein, cocoa butter and extra virgin olive oil have almost identical effects on serum lipids.
Triglycerides
After controlling for dietary interventions, only the serum triglyceride level of the palm olein diet was significantly lower than that of the extra virgin olive oil diet. No other significant differences were found.
Starting values
At the beginning of the three experimental periods, there were no significant differences in conventional indices among the three groups.
What the authors conclude
“POL, CB and EVOO have almost identical effects on serum lipids.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that palm olein, cocoa butter and extra virgin olive oil have almost identical effects on serum lipids.
How it was done
The authors wanted to find out how palm olein, cocoa butter and extra virgin olive oil affect blood fats and the subfractions of low-density lipoprotein in a young, healthy Chinese population.
After screening, 72 subjects were randomly assigned to three groups in an 18-week randomized crossover trial. The first phase was a 2-week run-in, followed by three 4-week experimental periods with a 2-week washout between them. Three groups alternately ate a Chinese diet enriched with the different test oils. Each test oil provided about 40% of total fat intake and about 11.3% of total energy. Sixty-seven subjects completed the study.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial was in young, healthy Chinese people, so the results may not apply to other groups.
- It only lasted 18 weeks, so it cannot show what happens over a lifetime.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Southeast University, P.R. China; Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, P.R. China; d National Institute for Nutrition and Health, P.R. China
The paper
- Title
- A comparative study of the effects of palm olein, cocoa butter and extra virgin olive oil on lipid profile, including low-density lipoprotein subfractions in young healthy Chinese people
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Cheng C, Wang D, Xia H, et al (2019). A comparative study of the effects of palm olein, cocoa butter and extra virgin olive oil on lipid profile, including low-density lipoprotein subfractions in young healthy Chinese people. International journal of food sciences and nutrition. doi:10.1080/09637486.2018.1504009PubMed 30160543DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error