Abstract
Increased oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with the development of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Pistacia atlantica seed oil is an edible oil with high antioxidant content. To examine the effect of replacing dietary edible oils with a blend of Pistacia atlantica seed oil and canola oil compared with a blend of corn and canola oil with tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and a blend of corn and canola oil without TBHQ on oxidative stress markers, serum fasting glucose and lipid profile in patients with MetS. We conducted a single-center, triple-blind, three-way randomized crossover clinical trial (RCT) on 72 patients with MetS. Each intervention period lasted 8 weeks, separated by 4-week washout periods. Dietary food recalls and blood samples were collected at the beginning and end of each intervention period. Linear mixed model was used to assess the estimated mean difference of oxidative stress markers including serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and the enzyme activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and lipid profile between intervention oils. A total of 66 participants completed the study. The intervention oils did not show significant differences in their effects on oxidative stress markers. However, Pistacia atlantica seed-canola oil, compared to corn-canola oil with synthetic antioxidants, showed a significantly greater effect on reducing triglyceride (TG) levels (P < 0.01). Additionally, corn-canola oil without synthetic antioxidants showed a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) compared to corn-canola oil with synthetic antioxidants (P < 0.05). The intervention oils were not significantly different regarding their effect on oxidative stress markers. There were no significant differences in the effects of the intervention oils on oxidative stress markers. Pistacia atlantica seed-canola oil might lower serum TG levels compared to other intervention oils. Future long-term interventions should be conducted to confirm these findings.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to appreciate the participants for their voluntary and enthusiastic involvement in the project. Also, we would like to thank Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and the Neshatavar food industry company (Datis Corporation) for their joint funding of this study. We also thank the research council of Nutrition and Food Security Research Center for their scientific support. The authors will also like to thank the Endocrinology and Metabolism clinics and polyclinics of Shahid Sadoughi University of medical sciences, Yazd, Iran for their close cooperation and their executive assistance.
Funding
The study was jointly funded by Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences (http://www.ssu.ac.ir) and the Neshatavar food industry (Datis Corporation; https://www.neshatavar.ir/). The investigators did not have a direct financial relationship with Datis Corporation, and Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences received the funds and delivered them to the investigators. Datis Corporation also provided all of the intervention oils used during the study, including a blend of Pistacia atlantica seed and canola oils, corn-canola oil with TBHQ, and corn-canola oil without TBHQ, and sunflower oils.
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Sasanfar, B., Forootani, B., Emrani, A.S. et al. The effects of Pistacia atlantica seed-canola oil blend on serum oxidative stress and lipid biomarkers in adults with metabolic syndrome. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41304-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41304-w
