Canola Council of Canada invest in research on health benefits of Canola oil

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) today announced a new wave of investment - $350,000 - into research on the role of canola in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and diabetes.

The announcement of funding under the Canola Product Research Fund (CPRF)kicked off the Council's annual convention in Toronto. Themed "The Skinny on Fats", the convention today is featuring presentations about the prospects for canola as the world's healthiest oil.

Dr. David Jenkins, Professor of Medicine and nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto, said the funding will allow his team to continue research into nutritional ways of preventing and treating diabetes and heart disease. The first phase of his research project was funded by an earlier infusion of CPRF funds. Dr. Jenkins is a speaker at the CCC conference.

The $350,000 investment will go toward two key research projects:

• The effect of Canola Oil on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes
• Endothelial Function Assessment (Drs. David Jenkins and Cyril Kendall)
• The effects of Canola Oil Fatty Acid composition on Insulin Resistance and Obesity (Drs. Carla Taylor and Peter Zahradka)

"Our industry has come together - growers, crushers, exporters and seed developers, to fund this important research,"said Canola Council President JoAnne Buth. "Our goal is to leverage these dollars by partnering with the federal government on further research initiatives."Brian Chorney, a Director on the CCC Board of Directors and a canola producer, said the research is welcome news for Canada's 50,000 canola growers. "This is truly a great example of canola producer levy dollars at work. Canola is the healthiest oil in the world, not just because we say so, but because research proves it. That is a key point in marketing Canadian canola."The CPRF was established in 2007 as a major fund to support innovative research linking canola oil to improving the health of all Canadians.