Reduction of dietary saturated fatty acids correlates with increased plasma lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity in humans.
OBJECTIVE
Increased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations have been associated with lower coronary heart disease risk. On the other hand, dietary fats are known to influence the fatty acid profile of plasma lipids, including phospholipids that are substrates of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), an important enzyme in HDL metabolism. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake and LCAT activity.


METHODS
An interventional study was performed in a monk community of 25 men.


METHODS
A French monk community, South West of France.


METHODS
The basal diet of the study cohort contained SFA in a proportion of 13.5% of their total energy intake (TEI). They were submitted to two experimental isocaloric diets containing either 8.4% of the TEI in SFA (diet A) or 11% (diet B), each lasting 5 weeks.


RESULTS
The elevation of SFA in diet B was mainly obtained by decreasing carbohydrates. The only significant difference among total fats between diets A and B was the myristic acid content (0.6 and 1.2% of TEI, respectively). The elevation in SFA in diet B resulted in a significant increase of HDL-C (P<0.04), while plasma apo A-I concentration and LCAT activity both decreased (P<0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Altogether, these results are consistent with a negative effect of SFA on reverse cholesterol transport.
Bérard
A M
AM
Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire, Université Victor Ségalen Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. annie.berard@u-bordeaux2.fr
Dabadie
H
H
Palos-Pinto
A
A
Dumon
M-F
MF
Darmon
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase