Canola oil compared with olive oil for blood fats in adults
What it found
In adults, canola oil lowered LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and the LDL/HDL ratio more than olive oil did.
It made no clear difference to HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, the total/HDL ratio or VLDL cholesterol.
What they found
Studies in people
LDL cholesterol
Canola oil lowered LDL cholesterol more than olive oil did, by about 6.13 mg/dl on average across the trials.
Total cholesterol
Total cholesterol fell more with canola oil than with olive oil, by about 8.92 mg/dl on average.
LDL/HDL ratio
The ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol was lower with canola oil than with olive oil, by about 0.30 on average.
Other blood fats
There were no significant changes in the other blood lipid components measured, including HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, the total/HDL ratio and VLDL cholesterol.
What the authors conclude
“The results of this review suggest that CO consumptionhas beneficial effects on LDL-c, TC, and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio compared to OO.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say canola oil consumption has beneficial effects on LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and the LDL/HDL ratio compared with olive oil.
- They suggest that replacing olive oil with canola oil can have cardioprotective impacts.
How it was done
Several trials had looked at canola oil against olive oil for blood fats in adults, but their results did not agree. The authors wanted to compare the two oils on blood lipid levels.
They searched online databases up to 4 February 2022 and pooled 13 randomised controlled trials in adults. The trials compared canola oil consumption with olive oil consumption and measured blood lipid levels.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The trials in this review were randomised, so they can show cause and effect for the blood fats measured.
- They cannot show whether these changes in blood fats lead to fewer heart problems over time.
- They cannot show how canola oil and olive oil compare for other health outcomes.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Comparison of canola oil and olive oil consumption on the serum lipid profile in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Type
- Systematic review and meta-analysisThe authors follow a set, published method to find every relevant study, then combine the numbers from them into one result.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Pourrajab B, Sharifi-Zahabi E, Soltani S, Shahinfar H, Shidfar F (2023). Comparison of canola oil and olive oil consumption on the serum lipid profile in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. doi:10.1080/10408398.2022.2100314PubMed 35866510DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error