Adult ovariectomized rats were assigned by weight (initially 257 g) to an AIN-93G diet containing 8% -tocopherol ( TP)-stripped soybean oil or the same diet containing 1% modified tall oil (MTO) at the expense of soybean oil. Rats fed MTO had lower body weight, total body fat, and more lean tissue (P < 0.05). Rats fed MTO had lower serum TP levels (P < 0.005) at 4 and 6 wk and higher (P < 0.05) total cholesterol in the liver, kidneys, and abdominal and retroperitoneal fat. Rats fed MTO had enhanced abdominal and retroperitoneal fat TP (134.11 vs 81.66 nmol/g and 128.51 vs 92.87 nmol/g for rats fed MTO and the control diet, respectively P =< 0.005). These data suggest that adult ovariectomized rats fed a diet containing MTO gain less weight, are leaner, have less total body fat, and preferentially shift deposition of TP to adipose tissues.