Butters are made from high oleic vegetable oils during a procedure by which a large percentage of the oleic acid is transformed into trans-configured elaidic acid, without significantly increasing the saturated fat present in the high oleic vegetable oil. The vegetable oils have an initial oleic acid content of at least about 75 weight percent, with the hard butter made from it being a high elaidic hard fat having at least about 65% trans-configured elaidic acid. The preferred process is a single-step procedure of hydrogenation in the presence of a deadened catalyst such as a sulfur-poisoned nickel catalyst.

A non-hydrogenated canola oil having superior oxidative stability and fry stability useful for food applications is disclosed, as well as seeds, plant lines and progeny thereof from which the oil is derived.

Crude edible specialty oils, namely, sesame seed oil, rice bran oil, wheat germ oil, oat germ oil, coffee oil, tea seed oil, and pine seed oil are refined so as to minimize the destruction of antioxidants and antioxidant precursors naturally occurring in the crude oil. This specially processed or "dedicated" oil may be mixed, in small proportion, with a much less expensive edible "bulk" oil which has been conventionally refined. The mixture exhibits to a substantial extent the resistance of the dedicated oil to oxidation and polymerization.

A polyol ester is described which is derived from: (A) an aliphatic or alicyclic polyol; and (B) an aliphatic monocarboxylic mixture derived from a natural vegetable oil, said acid mixture comprising at least about 72% by weight of oleic acid. The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polyol esters and at least one antioxidant, and lubricating oil compositions comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity and the polyol esters of the invention. Lubricating oil compositions comprising polyol esters of the invention, at least one antioxidant, and an oil of lubricating viscosity also are described and are particularly useful.

The present invention relates generally to a method of improving the antioxidant status of an infant. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of improving the antioxidant status of an infant by administering a mixture of natural tocopherols. The natural tocopherol mixture is an effective blend of .alpha.- and .gamma.-tocopherol. For ease of administration and improved taste, the mixture of natural tocopherols are typically delivered in vehicle which may be in the form, for example, of a tablet, capsule, liquid, and nutritional formula. The present invention also relates to a method of improving the antioxidant status of an infant by supplementing the lactating woman wherein the supplemented breast milk is fed to the infant. Additionally, the present invention relates to a method of improving the antioxidant status of a newborn infant by supplementing the pregnant woman.