Response surface analysis was used to study dietary ratios of n-3/n-6 fatty acid and P/S to minimize plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL ${cdot}$ VLDL-C levels and maximize plasma HDL ${cdot}$ C levels of rats. Because the dietary components were not statistically independent, they were studied in combinations of two variables. The two-variable combinations were the most useful in locating the desired maximum or minimum plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL ${cdot}$ VLDL-C response in terms of the proportions of the dietary components. Response surface contours and three dimensional plots were developed for each plasma lipid response. The contours and three dimensional plots were used to help determine those combinations of the dietary fatty acid ratios that would produce the desired minimum or maximum lpid responses. The statistical analyses indicated that the minimized plasma cholesterol response levels could be attained with a diet consisting of 2.26 n-3/n-6 fatty acid and 2.15 P/S ratios.