Combined effects of dietary fat and birth weight on serum cholesterol concentrations: the Hertfordshire Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
Blood cholesterol responses to the manipulation of dietary fat vary widely between persons. Although epidemiologic evidence suggests that prenatal growth and nutrition influence adult cholesterol homeostasis, whether prenatal growth modifies the association between dietary fat intake and serum cholesterol concentration in adults is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The aim was to examine the relation between fat intake and serum cholesterol concentrations in men and women whose birth weights were known.


METHODS
We studied a cohort of men and women aged 59-71 y. Diet was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire. Total, HDL-, and LDL-cholesterol concentrations and the ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol were measured in fasting blood samples from 574 men and 562 women who did not have coronary heart disease.


RESULTS
Total and saturated fat intakes were not associated with serum cholesterol concentrations in men or women. However, subdivision by birth weight showed associations in men but not in women. High intakes of total and saturated fat were associated with reduced HDL-cholesterol concentrations in men with birth weights < or =3.2 kg (7 lb) but not in men with higher birth weights. Similar effects on the HDL-to-LDL cholesterol ratio were observed (P for interaction = 0.02 for total fat and 0.01 for saturated fat). When 32 men taking cholesterol-lowering medication were excluded, the interactions were strengthened (P = 0.008 and 0.006, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The adverse effects of high intakes of total and saturated fat on serum cholesterol concentrations in men may be confined to those with lower birth weights.
Robinson
Sian M
SM
Medical Research Council Epidemiology Resource Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, United Kingdom. smr@mrc.soton.ac.uk
Batelaan
Sue F
SF
Syddall
Holly E
HE
Sayer
Avan Aihie
AA
Dennison
Elaine M
EM
Martin
Helen J
HJ
Barker
David J
DJ
Cooper
Cyrus
C
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002784:Cholesterol