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.

Scientific Claim

In male Ldlr–/– mice, monocytes from those fed extra-virgin olive oil and nuts (EVOND) showed a 40–50% reduction in uptake of oxidized LDL ex vivo compared to monocytes from Western diet-fed mice, suggesting reduced scavenger receptor-mediated lipid internalization.

Original Statement

“After ex vivo incubation with DiI-oxLDL, monocytes in mice fed EVOND had significantly lower DiI levels, indicating less oxLDL uptake, than those in mice fed WD (Figure 4C).”

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 ex vivo assay isolates monocyte function but does not prove in vivo causality. The association between diet and reduced oxLDL uptake is robustly measured but not causal.

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

Mice that ate olive oil and nuts instead of unhealthy fats had blood cells that sucked up less bad cholesterol, which helps explain why they got less heart disease.

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

Similar Assertions

Mice that ate olive oil and nuts instead of butter had less cholesterol and fat in their blood, which might help keep their arteries from getting clogged.

81%

The immune cells in mice eating olive oil and nuts had fewer 'danger signals' on their surface than those eating a fatty Western diet, making them less likely to trigger inflammation.

79%

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

74%

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.

74%

Mice eating olive oil and nuts had fewer fat-filled immune cells in their blood than mice eating butter, which may help prevent artery damage.

71%