The effect of replacing dietary saturated fat with polyunsaturated or mono-unsaturated fat on plasma lipids in free-living young adults.
The effect of replacing dietary saturated fat with polyunsaturated or mono-unsaturated fat on plasma lipids in free-living young adults.
Year: 2001
Authors: L Hodson, C M Skeaff, W-A H Chisholm.
Publication Name: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Publication Details: Volume 55; Page 908.
Abstract:
It is well established that dietary lipids have a significant impact on the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In particular, serum cholesterol levels have been identified as a major CVD, while intake of saturated fat (SFA) is associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). However, no consensus exists regarding whether SFA should be replaced with monounsaturated fat (MUFA), or polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) and total fat intake that should be recommended. In this study, the effects on plasma cholesterol of substituting saturated fat rich foods with either n-6 PUFA or MUFA rich foods, as part of a diet low in total fat (30-?33% of dietary energy) was examined. The study population was free-living adults eating self-selected diets in two randomized crossover trials (trial I, n=29; and trial II, n=42). In trials I and II, a diet high in saturated fat yet with a total fat content that conformed to nutrition recommendations (30?33% energy) was consumed for 2 ? weeks. Following this, a 2 1?2 week comparison diet included foods rich in n-6 PUFA (trial I) or foods were rich in MUFA (trial II). Participants were asked to maintain a total fat intake of 30?33% of energy on all diets. When replacing saturated fat with either n-6 PUFA or MUFA, total fat intakes decreased by 2.9% energy and 5.1% energy, respectively. Replacing SFA with n-6 PUFA (trial I) lowered plasma total cholesterol by 19%, low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 22% and high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 14%, whereas replacing saturated fat with MUFA (trial II) decreased total cholesterol by 12%, low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 15%, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 14%, whereas replacing saturated fat with MUFA (trial II) decreased total cholesterol by 12%, low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 15%, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol by 4%, respectively. The change in the ratio of total to high density lipoprotein cholesterol was similar during trial I and trial II. The authors concluded that young adults are very responsive to dietary-induced changes in plasma cholesterol even when an isocaloric replacement of saturated fat with n-6 PUFA or MUFA is not achieved. Replacing saturated fat with either n-6 PUFA or MUFA was equally efficacious at reducing the total to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio.
