JEDDAH, 3 May — Health problems caused by various fats and oils are well known, but recent studies have found that some natural oils can be beneficial to the heart, actually making it healthier.
Specifically referring to corn oil, Dr. Khalid A. Madani, supervisor of the nutrition department, Makkah Region, Ministry of Health, said at a press conference organized by Savola at the Crowne Plaza Hotel yesterday that the
studies, conducted by Leatherhead Food RA, London, found that “corn oil contains high levels of tocotrienols.” “Tocotrienols, which act as antioxidants, are members of the vitamin E family that help in controlling blood cholesterol levels, and increase the heart’s resistance to clots,” Natural corn oil helps in providing the body with tocotrienols it needs, he said adding that “the Leatherhead Food RA Center is one of the respected scientific bodies, trusted in the field of nutritional research and therefore giving the study both credit and authenticity.”
In addition to tocotrienols, Madani said, new research studies had revealed that phytosterols, which also occur naturally in corn oil, help reduce cholesterol levels further, thus lessening the risk of heart attack.”
According to Dr. Ghazi Al-Sulaimani, marketing and strategic marketing services director at Savola, which launched its health awareness campaign “When cholesterol goes down, health goes up” campaign on the occasion, said: “This campaign is the first in a series that Afia is launching over several media channels. Through such campaigns, Afia aims to contribute to the general health awareness of society.”
Emad Al Qurashi, brand manager for corn oil products at Savola, said: “The campaign statement has become Afia’s motto for its health awareness plan, which is aimed at educating the public on the importance of maintaining low cholesterol levels.”
