Mediterranean and low-fat diets improve endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic men.
BACKGROUND
The regulatory function of the endothelium is altered in hypercholesterolemia, and the subsequent endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the development of atherosclerosis.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic patients is affected by replacing a saturated fat-enriched diet with a low-fat, low-saturated fat diet (the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program stage 1 [NCEP-1] diet) or a diet rich in monounsaturated fat (such as that common in Mediterranean countries).


METHODS
Intervention dietary study with a baseline phase and two randomized crossover dietary periods.


METHODS
Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.


METHODS
22 hypercholesterolemic men.


METHODS
Patients followed a diet high in saturated fat, then were assigned in a crossover design to the NCEP-1 diet or a Mediterranean diet. Each dietary period lasted 28 days.


METHODS
Plasma P-selectin levels, lipid concentrations, and endothelial function.


RESULTS
Compared with the saturated fat diet, flow-mediated dilatation increased during the Mediterranean diet but not during the NCEP-1 diet. In addition, levels of plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and P-selectin decreased during the NCEP-1 and Mediterranean diets.


CONCLUSIONS
In hypercholesterolemic men, diets low in fat (especially saturated fat) and diets rich in monounsaturated fats improve endothelial function.
Fuentes
F
F
Unidad de Lípidos y Arteriosclerosis, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Avenida Menéndez Pidal, s/n 14004 Córdoba, Spain.
López-Miranda
J
J
Sánchez
E
E
Sánchez
F
F
Paez
J
J
Paz-Rojas
E
E
Marín
C
C
Gómez
P
P
Jimenez-Perepérez
J
J
Ordovás
J M
JM
Pérez-Jiménez
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D008055:Lipids; D019007:P-Selectin