Solubility of Cholesterol in Various Fats and Oils. ∗

Summary

The solubility of cholesterol in various fats and oils at 37°C has been studied using radioactive cholesterol. The amount of radioactivity present in the supernatant obtained after an excess of cholesterol-4-C¹⁴ and the fat have been shaken for 18 hours is used to assay the amount of cholesterol dissolved. Using both pure and natural triglycerides, it has been shown that the fats and oils composed largely of short chain fatty acids (C_6- C₁₂) have the greatest solubilizing effect. Addition of 2% of pure fatty acids (C₆ through C₂₀) to corn oil or coconut oil shows that while all the fatty acids used enhance cholesterol solubility, highest solubility is obtained when C₆, C₈, C₁₀, or C₁₂ fatty acids are used.