A central Government-sponsored study has found that the normal (crude) mustard oil is a healthier cooking oil as it contained natural anti-oxidants, phenolics, phytins and calcium that in turn decreased cholesterol levels in humans.

The study by the Delhi-based Mustard Research and Promotion Consortium (MRPC) found that that the crude mustard oil also has the presence of glucosinolates that has antibacterial, antifungal and anticarcinogenic properties.

The study was held in collaboration with Department of Gasteroenterology and Human Nutrition group, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and supported by National Dairy Development Board NDDB.

It was observed that population who was supplemented by normal (crude) mustard oil for six months, during the study, showed a significant decreased pattern in the level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, LDL/HDL ratio and total cholesterol / HDL ratio. HDL cholesterol level increased significantly and it is beneficial for heart. A significant increased pattern was observed in triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and VLDL cholesterol after the supplementation of crude mustard oil with out erucic acid and glucosinolate for six months. Furthermore, supplementation of refined mustard oil with out erucic acid and glucosinolate had shown the increase pattern in total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol level but this difference was not significant. However, LDL and VLDL cholesterols were significantly raised.

The project aimed to study the effect of feeding mustard oil, on health and morbidity status in normal healthy individuals; to study the edible oil consumption level and pattern in the study area; and to study the effect of feeding mustard oil and "00" mustard oil on the biochemical changes in normal healthy individuals and to standardized biochemical parameters (Serum Triglyceride, Serum cholesterol, High Density Lipoprotein, Fibrinogen, Erythrocyte Morphology and Na, K, ATPase) in the laboratory.

MRPC, established by its K K Puri, chairman, Puri Group of Industries, is an R&D organization, recognized by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India as a Research and Development Organization. MRPC had filed patents process for extraction of allylisothiocyanate from Indian mustard, process for extraction of protein from mustard seed, and for Novel solvent medium for extraction of protein, its executive secretary Dr H B Singh said.