Reducing total dietary fat without reducing saturated fatty acids does not significantly lower total plasma cholesterol concentrations in normal males.
Forty-eight healthy male students ate an average American diet (AAD) with 37% of calories from fat and 16% from saturated fatty acids for 3 wk. During the next 7 wk, one-third of the students continued to eat the AAD, one-third switched to a 30%-fat diet with 9% saturated fatty acids (Step 1 diet), and one-third switched to a 30%-fat diet with 14% saturated fatty acids (Sat diet). The Step 1 group had a significant reduction in plasma total cholesterol (TC) (0.36 +/- 0.37 mmol/L) compared with the AAD group (0.07 +/- 0.39 mmol/L) and the Sat group (0.08 +/- 0.25 mmol/L). The Sat group did not differ from the AAD group. Changes in low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol paralleled changes in total cholesterol. High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol fell significantly in the Step 1 group (0.11 +/- 0.08 mmol/L) compared with the AAD group. Plasma triglycerides did not differ between groups at the end of the randomized periods. In summary, reduction of dietary fat intake from 37% to 30% of calories did not lower plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations unless the reduction in total fat was achieved by decreasing saturated fatty acids.
Barr
S L
SL
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
Ramakrishnan
R
R
Johnson
C
C
Holleran
S
S
Dell
R B
RB
Ginsberg
H N
HN
D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol