Thursday Oct 17, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Both olive oil and sesame oil can help lower cholesterol and blood fat (triglycerides), according to a study in International Journal of Preventive Medicine.

S.M. Namayandeh from Shahid Sadoughi Medical University, Cardiovascular Research Center in Yazd, Iran and colleagues conducted the study in 48 patients who had high cholesterol and found 1-month use of either olive oil or sesame oil can help lower cholesterol, triglyceride.

For the study, patients use 4 table spoons (60 grams) of refined olive oil or sesame oil each day.

Patients using olive oil decreased cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body weight, waistline, and body mass in index and patients using sesame oil lowered cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein significantly and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

The researchers concluded "Sesame oil had equivalent effect on lipid profile in comparison olive oil and lipid profile improvement was better in sesame oil in LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) and TG (triglyceride)."