Transcript for Prof. Sun’s interview

Dietary Reference Intakes for Oils and Fats in China and Effects of Different Oils on the Human Serum Lipid Profile in Chinese Population

By Prof. Sun Gui Ju, Southeast University China

Before this, many people think the palm oil is not a good oil, because it contains higher saturated fatty acid. However, recently we carried out two studies in China. We compared the effects of palm olein and olive oil on the human lipids profile. Our results indicated that palm olein and olive oil have the same effect on the human lipid profile.

The red palm oil is a new product of MPOB, and the beta-carotene content in crude palm oil is very high. However, when we refined the palm oil, the content of the beta-carotene is lower. However the red palm oil retains beta-carotene in the palm oil, so the red palm oil is a source of beta-carotene. As we know, beta-carotene transforms into vitamin A in our body. So red palm oil is a food to prevent vitamin A deficiency. In China, we carried out the study, we used red palm oil to prepare the biscuits, and then we give the biscuits to the children, after the children eat the red palm oil biscuits, the rate of vitamin A deficiency decreased from 21.6% to 6.1%. So we can say the red palm oil prevent vitamin A deficiency. So I think the red palm oil we can use as cooking oil and use in other food industry and we can use it to prevent vitamin A deficiency.

As I said, the red palm oil contain high beta-carotene . Indeed the beta-carotene besides transform into vitamin A, beta-carotene has oil function such as antioxidant and anticancer. There are some researches reported. So red palm oil, I think it become function foods in industry and in market. I think the red palm oil has potential in becoming a functional food for a bigger market.

Background:

The Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of the Ministry of Education, China in the Nanjing’s Southeast University conducted a study in comparing the effects of long term intakes of palm olein and virgin olive oil in human lipid profile. The study showed that palm olein, similarly to virgin olive oil is healthy and does not increase cholesterol in the body.

In May 2015 to November 2015, MPOB commenced a Vitamin A intervention programme for school children living in rural areas of Gansu Province in collaboration with Chinese Nutrition Society and Lanzhou University. The study showed that the incidence of Vitamin A deficiency among the school children reduced from 21.6% to 6.1% after feeding of biscuits made from red palm oil for 6 months.