Mice eating olive oil and nuts had more of the good fats (like olive oil and nuts) and less of the bad fats (like butter) in their blood than mice eating a typical fatty diet.

Scientific Claim

In male Ldlr–/– mice, replacing milkfat with extra-virgin olive oil and nuts increased plasma levels of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid while decreasing capric, lauric, and myristic acids, resulting in a higher unsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio.

Original Statement

“Compared to mice fed WD, mice fed EVOND had significant decreases in the concentrations of several SFAs, including capric acid (C10:0), lauric acid (C12:0), and myristic acid (C14:0)... oleic acid was the major FA in plasma of EVOND-fed mice... increases in the concentrations and percentages of linoleic acid (C18:2), α-linolenic acid (C18:3)... UFA/SFA ratio was significantly higher in the EVOND group than the WD group (Figure 2C).”

From study:Replacing Saturated Fat With Unsaturated Fat in Western Diet Reduces Foamy Monocytes and Atherosclerosis in Male Ldlr-/- Mice.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study directly measures dietary fat composition and plasma fatty acid profiles; the association is factual and appropriately described without overstatement.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Replacing Saturated Fat With Unsaturated Fat in Western Diet Reduces Foamy Monocytes and Atherosclerosis in Male Ldlr-/- Mice.

Cohort Study

Animal

2020 Jan

The study found that when mice ate olive oil and nuts instead of butter and milkfat, their blood had more healthy fats and fewer unhealthy fats, exactly as the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Replacing Saturated Fat With Unsaturated Fat in Western Diet Reduces Foamy Monocytes and Atherosclerosis in Male Ldlr-/- Mice.

Score: 15

DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.119.313078

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When immune cells from mice eating olive oil and nuts were tested in a dish, they absorbed less of the bad cholesterol that clogs arteries than cells from mice eating butter.

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The plaques in mice eating olive oil and nuts had fewer inflammatory immune cells inside them than plaques in mice eating a fatty diet.

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