Diets high in palmitic acid (16:0), lauric and myristic acids (12:0 + 14:0), or oleic acid (18:1) do not alter postprandial or fasting plasma homocysteine and inflammatory markers in healthy Malaysian adults.
BACKGROUND
Dietary fat type is known to modulate the plasma lipid profile, but its effects on plasma homocysteine and inflammatory markers are unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effects of high-protein Malaysian diets prepared with palm olein, coconut oil (CO), or virgin olive oil on plasma homocysteine and selected markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in healthy adults.


METHODS
A randomized-crossover intervention with 3 dietary sequences of 5 wk each was conducted in 45 healthy subjects. The 3 test fats, namely palmitic acid (16:0)-rich palm olein (PO), lauric and myristic acid (12:0 + 14:0)-rich CO, and oleic acid (18:1)-rich virgin olive oil (OO), were incorporated at two-thirds of 30% fat calories into high-protein Malaysian diets.


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed in the effects of the 3 diets on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and the inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interferon-γ. Diets prepared with PO and OO had comparable nonhypercholesterolemic effects; the postprandial total cholesterol for both diets and all fasting lipid indexes for the OO diet were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than for the CO diet. Unlike the PO and OO diets, the CO diet was shown to decrease postprandial lipoprotein(a).


CONCLUSIONS
Diets that were rich in saturated fatty acids prepared with either PO or CO, and an OO diet that was high in oleic acid, did not alter postprandial or fasting plasma concentrations of tHcy and selected inflammatory markers. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00941837.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ph080925907@imu.edu.my
Phooi Tee
PT
Voon
Tony Kock Wai
TK
Ng
Verna Kar Mun
VK
Lee
Kalanithi
K
Nesaretnam
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005215:Fasting; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007850:Lauric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009227:Myristic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069463:Olive Oil; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007850:Lauric Acids; D009227:Myristic Acids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D006710:Homocysteine; C030358:lauric acid; D019301:Oleic Acid; D019308:Palmitic Acid