The effects of sesame, canola, and sesame–canola oils on cardiometabolic markers in patients with type 2 diabetes: a triple-blind three-way randomized crossover clinical trial

Aims To compare the effects of replacing regular dietary oils intake with sesame (SO), canola (CO), and sesame–canola (SCO) oils (a novel blend), on cardiometabolic markers in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in a triple-blind, three-way, randomized, crossover clinical trial. Methods Participants were assigned to receive SO, CO, and SCO in three 9-week phases (4 weeks apart). Cardiometabolic makers (serum lipids, Apolipoprotein, cardiovascular risk scores, kidney markers, and blood pressure) were considered at the beginning and the end of intervention phases. Results Ninety-two, ninety-five, and ninety-five participants completed the SO, SCO, and CO periods, respectively. After CO consumption, serum Apo A-1 concentrations were significantly higher compared with the SCO period in the whole population ( p < 0.05). A considerable reduction in visceral adiposity index values was seen in the CO compared with the SO period in males ( p < 0.05). Serum high-density lipoprotein concentration was also significantly higher after the SO intake compared with SCO in females ( p < 0.05). The between-period analysis showed a substantial reduction in diastolic blood pressure in the SCO period compared with the CO and SO periods and lower systolic blood pressure after SCO versus CO intake in males ( p < 0.05). Conclusions Canola oil might protect CVD through improving Apo A-1 levels in patients with T2DM (particularly in females) and visceral adiposity index in male patients. However, the blend oil might beneficially affect blood pressure in men. Future sex-specific studies might warrant the current findings. Registry of clinical trials This trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT, registration ID: IRCT2016091312571N6).