Pork with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids lowers LDL cholesterol in women.
BACKGROUND
Animal products contribute significantly to the saturated fat and cholesterol content of the American diet. Contrary to dietary advice, consumers have not limited their consumption of animal products. Thus, an alternative approach might be to modify the fatty acid composition of animal products.


OBJECTIVE
We tested the hypothesis that modified pork with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and a low content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) would lower plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations in women.


METHODS
Twenty women aged 19-24 y completed a crossover study with 2 diets. Nutritionally complete diets containing 42% of energy from fat differed only in the inclusion of either standard or modified pork. Venous blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 4, and 8.


RESULTS
The diet containing modified pork significantly lowered total plasma (P < 0.0076) and LDL (P < 0.0382) cholesterol. The modified diet also resulted in an increase in the PUFA and a decrease in the SFA and monounsaturated fatty acid contents of the cholesteryl ester, free fatty acid, phospholipid, and triacylglycerol lipid classes in both plasma and erythrocytes. Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, triacylglycerol, and free fatty acids did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of pork with a high PUFA content resulted in a decrease in the subjects' total plasma and LDL cholesterol and shifted the fatty acid composition from SFAs to PUFAs in the plasma and erythrocytes. Modification of the fatty acid composition of animal foods will be a useful approach to lowering the saturated fat consumption of Americans.
Stewart
J W
JW
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.
Kaplan
M L
ML
Beitz
D C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D013552:Swine
D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D007328:Insulin; D002784:Cholesterol