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Reduction of dietary saturated fatty acids correlates with increased plasma lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity in humans

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 881–887 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

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

Setting: A French monk community, South West of France.

Subjects and interventions: 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).

Conclusion: Altogether, these results are consistent with a negative effect of SFA on reverse cholesterol transport.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Mrs RP Lacomère and M Bernard for collecting dietary information and for their contribution to diet analysis. We thank E Peuchant for her contribution to fatty acid analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire, Université Victor Ségalen Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    A M Bérard, A Palos-Pinto, M-F Dumon & M Darmon

  2. Service de Nutrition, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, Avenue du Haut-Lévêque, Pessac, France

    H Dabadie

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  1. A M Bérard
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  2. H Dabadie
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  3. A Palos-Pinto
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  4. M-F Dumon
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  5. M Darmon
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Contributions

Guarantor: AM Bérard

Contributors: AMB was responsible for lipoprotein metabolism analysis, determination of LCAT and CETP activities, data analysis and preparation of the paper. HD was responsible for the study design and recruiting subjects. APP was responsible for FPLC analysis and CER determination. MFD was responsible for laboratory organization and data collection. MD was responsible for preparation of the paper.

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Correspondence to A M Bérard.

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Bérard, A., Dabadie, H., Palos-Pinto, A. et al. Reduction of dietary saturated fatty acids correlates with increased plasma lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity in humans. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 881–887 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601890

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