The effect of sesame, canola, and sesame-canola oils on cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight adults: a three-way randomized triple-blind crossover clinical trial

Limited data exist on the cardiometabolic effects of sesame oil compared with canola oil. In the present study, 77 overweight adults were randomized to replace their regularly consumed oils with canola (CO), sesame (SO), and sesame-canola oils (SCO, 40% SO, and 60% CO) in three 9-week phases. Blood pressure, visceral adiposity index, serum apo-proteins (APOs) and lipid profile, glycemic control markers, kidney markers, liver enzymes, and cardiovascular disease risk scores were assessed at baseline and endline. After adjustment for confounders, SO significantly reduced serum alkaline aminotransferase (ALT) compared to CO (p ≤ 0.05) in all participants, increased serum urea compared to SCO in males, and decreased serum alkaline phosphatase compared to other oils in males, and improved serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) compared to SCO, and eGFR compared with CO in females (p ≤ 0.05). Canola oil significantly improved serum Apo A1 and APO B/A ratio compared with SO, in males (p ≤ 0.05). Sesame-canola oil significantly reduced serum urea compared to other oils in all participants (p ≤ 0.05). Sesame oil and SCO might beneficially affect serum ALT and urea, respectively. Intervention oils might have different cardiometabolic effects in each gender. Further studies are needed to confirm our results (Trial registration code: IRCT2016091312571N6).