title: Postprandial lipid responses to an alpha-linolenic acid-rich oil, olive oil and butter in women: a randomized crossover trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postprandial lipaemia varies with gender and the composition of dietary fat due to the partitioning of fatty acids between beta-oxidation and incorporation into triacylglycerols (TAGs). Increasing evidence highlights the importance of postprandial measurements to evaluate atherogenic risk. Postprandial effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in women are poorly characterized. We therefore studied the postprandial lipid response of women to an ALA-rich oil in comparison with olive oil and butter, and characterized the fatty acid composition of total lipids, TAGs, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) in plasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized crossover design (n = 19) was used to compare the postprandial effects of 3 meals containing 35 g fat. Blood samples were collected at regular intervals for 7 h. Statistical analysis was carried out with ANOVA (significant difference = P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was seen in incremental area under the curve (iAUC) plasma-TAG between the meals. ALA and oleic acid levels were significantly increased in plasma after ALA-rich oil and olive oil meals, respectively. Palmitic acid was significantly increased in plasma-TAG after the butter meal. The ratios of 18:2 n-6 to18:3 n-3 in plasma-TAGs, three and seven hours after the ALA-rich oil meal, were 1.5 and 2.4, respectively. The corresponding values after the olive oil meal were: 13.8 and 16.9; and after the butter meal: 9.0 and 11.6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The postprandial p-TAG and NEFA response in healthy pre-menopausal women was not significantly different after the intake of an ALA-rich oil, olive oil and butter. The ALA-rich oil significantly affected different plasma lipid fractions and improved the ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids several hours postprandially.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenquist
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ohlsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002079:Butter; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000494:pharmacology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D008074:Lipoproteins; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074262:Rapeseed Oil; D014280:Triglycerides; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D008043:Linseed Oil; D002079:Butter; D002784:Cholesterol