Rapeseed oil compared with amaranth oil in overweight adults
What it found
In overweight and obese adults, taking amaranth oil raised total and LDL cholesterol compared with taking rapeseed oil.
There was no difference between the oils in the early blood markers of atherosclerosis that were measured.
What they found
Studies in people
Cholesterol changes
Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol rose in the amaranth oil group compared with the rapeseed oil group. The average change in total cholesterol was an increase of 5.52 mg/dL with amaranth oil versus a decrease of 8.43 mg/dL with rapeseed oil.
Other blood fats
There were no significant differences between the groups in changes to HDL cholesterol or triglycerides.
Inflammation marker
There was no significant difference between the amaranth oil and rapeseed oil groups in changes to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.
Early atherosclerosis markers
There were no significant differences between the groups in changes to ADMA, sVCAM-1 or sP-selectin, which are early markers of atherosclerosis.
Body measurements
There were no significant differences between the groups in changes to body weight, height, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio or BMI.
What the authors conclude
“The use of AmO instead of RaO may increase cardiovascular risk in obese and overweight subjects.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that using amaranth oil instead of rapeseed oil may promote a proatherogenic lipid profile in obese and overweight people.
- They say that whether this effect is limited to Central European inhabitants remains to be elucidated.
- They advise that regional differences in response to nutritional interventions should be the focus of further research.
How it was done
Amaranth oil has been suggested to have potential cholesterol-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects. The authors wanted to compare it directly with rapeseed oil in overweight and obese people.
44 overweight or obese adults took 20 mL of amaranth oil or 20 mL of rapeseed oil daily for one period, then switched to the other oil after a three-week washout. Blood markers and body measurements were checked before and after each period.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a randomised trial, so it can show cause and effect for the markers measured during the study periods.
- It cannot show whether these short-term changes in cholesterol would lead to more heart attacks or strokes over time.
- It cannot show whether the results apply to people who are not overweight or obese, or to other regions.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Nutricia Research Foundation (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- M.D.-Z. reports personal fees and nonfinancial support from Nestle, Recordati, and Nutricia. J.W. reports personal fees and nonfinancial support from Biocodex, BGP Products, Chiesi, Hipp, Humana, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Nestle, Nutricia, Roche, Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, and Vitis Pharma, outside the submitted work, and also grant and personal fees from Norsa Pharma and Nutricia Research Foundation Poland, also outside the submitted work. P.K.-J. & J.P. declare no conflict of interest. A.L. reports personal fees from Norsa Pharma and grant from Nutricia Research Foundation Poland, outside the submitted work. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
- Authors work at
- Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
The paper
- Title
- Amaranth Oil Increases Total and LDL Cholesterol Levels without Influencing Early Markers of Atherosclerosis in an Overweight and Obese Population: A Randomized Double-Blind Cross-Over Study in Comparison with Rapeseed Oil Supplementation
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Dus-Zuchowska M, Walkowiak J, Morawska A, et al (2019). Amaranth Oil Increases Total and LDL Cholesterol Levels without Influencing Early Markers of Atherosclerosis in an Overweight and Obese Population: A Randomized Double-Blind Cross-Over Study in Comparison with Rapeseed Oil Supplementation. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu11123069Free full textPubMed 31888234DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error