Research Objective

• To identify dietary compounds within canola oil that help to improve body composition or help with losing weight 
• Also to see the impact of canola oil intake on cardiovascular disease factors 
• Overall, to look at how consuming canola oil can make changes to a body’s use of fat (fat metabolism)

Project Description

Obesity is considered the most critical threat to the health and well-being of North Americans. Metabolism changes such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, can increase someone’s risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to see if active compounds that are in canola oil could improve someone’s body composition or help with weight loss. The bioactive lipid molecules within canola oil are called oleoylethanolamide (OEA), and there has been research to suggest that by consuming high oleic canola oil, there can be a reduction in abdominal fat mass. This has important potential for high oleic canola oil as a novel weight management ingredient in the human health and disease prevention marketplace. The results of this study showed that there was indeed a positive change at the genetic level in fat metabolism for a decrease in body composition when canola oil was being consumed, and with further research this will lead to a greater understanding of the health promoting benefits of canola oil.