Edible
oils form an essential part of the modern diet. These
oils play a role as an energy source, and provide the diet with many beneficial
micronutrients. Although a popular conception may be that fat should be avoided, certain edible
oils as a dietary supplement may play an important role in the improvement of cardiovascular health. CVD has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Dietary supplementation with different
oils may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. While
olive oil and
sunflower-seed oil are known to reduce serum
cholesterol,
fish oil has become well known for reducing potentially fatal
cardiac arrhythmias. Recently, red
palm oil research has shown beneficial effects on cardiac recovery from ischaemia-
reperfusion injury. It is clear that dietary supplementation with edible
oils may play a vital role in reducing the mortality rate due to
heart disease. The specific benefits and disadvantages of these
oils should, however, be explored in greater depth. The present review will attempt to identify the benefits and shortcomings of four popular edible
oils, namely
olive oil,
sunflower-seed oil,
fish oil and
palm oil. Additionally the present review will aim to reveal potential areas of research which could further enhance our understanding of the effects of edible
oils on cardiovascular health.