Induction of hypercholesteremia and athesroclerosis in chickens

A study was made in chickens to determine whether hypercholesteremia and atherosclerosis could be induced simply by adding to the normal diet a significant amount of saturated fat. Results were compared with those given stock diet alone. It was found that chickens given high saturated fat diets developed more extensive atherosclerosis and higher concentrations of serum cholesterol than the control animals. At the same time signs suggestive of essential fatty acid deficiency appeared in the saturated fat-supplemented groups. It appears that excess saturated fat is harmful to the organism. What would seem to be desirable is a reduction in the saturated fat-calories of the diet. (Summary)