Fatty acid composition of cholesterol esters reflects dietary fat intake after dietary interventions in a multinational population.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the relationship between changes in dietary fat intake (SFA vs. MUFA) and changes in fatty acid levels in serum cholesterol esters, as well as the impact of fish oil supplementation.
Results Summary
The study found that serum cholesterol ester fatty acid composition reflected dietary intake, with SFA intake linked to specific saturated fatty acids (C14:0, C15:0) and MUFA intake associated with oleic acid (C18:1 n-9). Fish oil supplementation significantly increased EPA (C20:5 n-3) and DHA (C22:6 n-3) levels, and Δ-9 desaturase activity was more reduced after the MUFA diet compared to the SFA diet.
Population
162 healthy individuals from a multinational population.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (diets contained a high proportion of SFA or MUFA; fish oil or placebo supplements were used).
Duration
3 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
diet containing a high proportion of saturated fat (SFA) | increase | saturated fatty acids (especially myristic, C14:0, and pentadecanoic, C15:0) in serum lipid composition | 162 healthy individuals | - | included | #1 |
diet containing a high proportion of monounsaturated fat (MUFA) | increase | monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid, C18:1 n-9) in serum lipid composition | 162 healthy individuals | - | included | #2 |
SFA intake | increase | C14:0 and C15:0 levels | 162 healthy individuals | - | related to | #3 |
MUFA intake | increase | C18:1 n-9 levels | 162 healthy individuals | - | associated with | #4 |
fish oil supplementation | increase | eicosapentaenoic (C20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6 n-3) acids | 162 healthy individuals | - | induced a marked increase in | #5 |
MUFA diet | decrease | Δ-9 desaturase activity (palmitoleic acid/palmitic acid (C16:1/C16:0) ratio) | 162 healthy individuals | 0.31±0.10 vs 0.25±0.09, p<0.0001 | more reduced | #6 |
SFA diet | decrease | Δ-9 desaturase activity (palmitoleic acid/palmitic acid (C16:1/C16:0) ratio) | 162 healthy individuals | 0.31±0.09 vs 0.29±0.08, p=0.006 | reduced | #7 |
MUFA diet vs SFA diet | decrease | Δ-9 desaturase activity reduction | 162 healthy individuals | p<0.0001 | statistically significant difference between | #8 |
BACKGROUND: The effects of different dietary fatty acids (FA) on cardiovascular risk still needs clarification. Plasma lipids composition may be a biomarker of FA dietary intake. PURPOSE: To evaluate in a composite population the relationships between changes in dietary fat intake and changes in FA levels in serum cholesterol esters. METHODS: In a multinational, parallel-design, dietary intervention (KANWU study), dietary intakes (3-day food record) and FA composition of serum cholesterol esters (gas-liquid chromatography) were evaluated at baseline and after 3 months in 162 healthy individuals, randomly assigned to a diet containing a high proportion of saturated (SFA) or monounsaturated (MUFA) fat, with a second random assignment to fish oil or placebo supplements. RESULTS: Main differences in serum lipid composition after the two diets included saturated (especially myristic, C14:0, and pentadecanoic, C15:0) and monounsaturated (oleic acid, C18:1 n-9) FA. C14:0 and C15:0 were related to SFA intake, while C18:1 n-9 was associated with MUFA intake. Fish oil supplementation induced a marked increase in eicosapentaenoic (C20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6 n-3) acids. After the 3-month intervention, Δ-9 desaturase activity, calculated as palmitoleic acid/palmitic acid (C16:1/C16:0) ratio, was more reduced after the MUFA (0.31±0.10 vs 0.25±0.09, p<0.0001) than SFA diet (0.31±0.09 vs 0.29±0.08, p=0.006), with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that serum cholesterol ester FA composition can be used during randomized controlled trials as an objective indicator of adherence to experimental diets based on saturated and monounsaturated fat modifications, as well as fish oil supplementation.