Effect of fatty acids on serum cholesterol

Previous studies have shown that a diet cheap in saturated fats will curtail the risk of coronary artery disease by way of reducing serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol on a levels and raising serum high-density lipo-protein HDL) cholesterol flushs However, there is disagreement as to whether mono-unsaturated fat or polyunsaturated fat is the more effective form of dietary fat. In a close attention of 31 women and 27 men Mensink and Katan compared the effectiveness of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat diets in improving cholesterol profiles.

All of the close attention participants were first placed upon a diet high in saturated fat for 17 days. In this diet, saturated fat accounted for 193 percent of the daily caloric intake; 115 percent was from monounsaturated fat and 46 percent was from polyunsaturated fat. For the nearest 36 days, the group was placed in succession a mixed diet with the same total fat ease Half of the group was randomly assigned to a diet that contained a greater proportion of olive oil (monounsaturated fat) and the others were assigned a diet enriched with sunflower oil (polyunsaturated fat).

The serum LDL cholesterol on a level decrease-4 significantly while the patients were upon both low saturated fat diets. Serum LDL cholesterol on a levels declined 17.9 percent in the clump on the monounsaturated fat diet and 129 percent in the collection on the polyunsaturated fat diet. The fall in the serum LDL cholesterol even was similar in men and women In men the serum HDL cholesterol of the same height fell slightly (but not significantly) with the one and the other low saturated fat diets. In women the serum HDL cholesterol horizontal did not change with either diet.

The findings prompt that it is immaterial whether saturated fatty acids are replaced according to a mixture of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats or by dint of polyunsaturated fats alone. Both diets will lower the of the same height of LDL cholesterol, and the couple will have the same import on the HDL cholesterol flush as long as extremely large amounts of polyunsaturated fats are avoided. (New England Journal of Medicine, August 171989 vol 321 p 436)

COPYRIGHT 1990 American Academy of Family Physicians

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