New research suggests that the fats in olive oil may lead to greater weight gain than those in other sources.
The study, recently published Reports, found that the main fatty component in olive oil, oleic acid, may promote the growth of new fat cells.
Oleic acid is a type of monounsaturated fat, sometimes called omega-9. A major source of oleic acid is olive oil, but the fatty acid is also found in other oils – including rapeseed (canola) oil and sunflower oil – as well as foods such as nuts, meats, cheese, eggs and avocado.
“You can think of the fat cells as an army,” said study co-author Dr Michael Rudolph, assistant professor of biochemistry and physiology at the University of Oklahoma. “When you give oleic acid, it initially increases the number of ‘fat cell soldiers’ in the army, which creates a larger capacity to store excess dietary nutrients.
