Dietary guidance for prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes recommendations to replace saturated fats with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) or monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Canola oil is a dietary source of MUFA (63 g/100g), and PUFA (28 g/100g) including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; 9.1 g/100g) a plant-derived omega-3 essential fatty acid. Therefore, canola oil has a fatty acid profile that is cardioprotective and it is recommended as part of a healthy dietary pattern. In this presentation, recent research focusing on how replacement of saturated fat with canola oil modulates lipids and lipoproteins, blood pressure, and vascular health will be summarized. In addition, these research findings will be discussed in the context of current recommendations for CVD prevention and management.
