[Linoleic acid in nutritional balance: experimental studies].

In the male rat a diet rich in beef fat facilitates the occurrence of hyperinsulinemia after a glucose load whereas fats rich in linoleic acid produce no such effect. The combination of saturated fat and saccharose facilitates the occurrence of hypertriglyceridemia in the male rat, no such effect is produced by the combination of fats rich in linoleic acid and saccharose. Linoleic acid prevents natrium chloride from provoking hypertriglyceridemia in male and in female rats subjected to a diet enriched in saccharose and fat. Estrogen-induced hypertriglyceridemia in castrated animals is strongly inhibited if the diet is rich in linoleic acid. Physical effort can prevent saccharose combined with saturated fats from inducing hypertriglyceridemia.