There is increasing evidence that the degree of postprandial lipaemia may be of importance in the development of atherosclerosis and IHD. Postprandial lipid, lipoprotein, glucose, insulin and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were investigated in eleven healthy young males after randomized ingestion of meals containing rapeseed oil, sunflower oil or palm oil with or without a glucose drink. On six occasions each subject consumed consecutive meals (separated by 1.75 h) containing 70 g (15 g and 55 g respectively) of each oil. On one occasion with each oil 50 g glucose was taken with the first meal. One fasting and fifteen postprandial blood samples were taken over 9 h. There were no statistically significant differences in lipoprotein and apolipoprotein responses after rapeseed, sunflower and palm oils, whereas insulin responses were lower after sunflower oil than after rapeseed oil (ANOVA, P = 0.04). The NEFA and triacylglycerol concentrations at 1.5 h were reduced when 50 g glucose was taken with the first meal (ANOVA, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05 respectively), regardless of meal fatty acid composition. In conclusion, the consumption of glucose with a mixed meal containing either rapeseed, sunflower or palm oil influenced the immediate triacylglycerol and NEFA responses compared with the same meal without glucose, whereas no significant effect on postprandial lipaemia after a subsequent meal was observed. The fatty acid composition of the meal did not significantly affect the lipid and lipoprotein responses, whereas an effect on insulin responses was observed.