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Differential response to low-fat diet between low and normal HDL-cholesterol subjects

B Asztalos1, M Lefevre, L Wong

  • 1Division of Lipoprotein Metabolism, Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.

Journal of Lipid Research
|March 8, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) subjects benefit more from low-fat diets, improving their LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. Normal HDL-C individuals experience decreased HDL-C and unchanged ratios on these diets.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular disease research
  • Nutritional science
  • Lipid metabolism

Background:

  • Heart attacks often occur in individuals with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (
  • Low-fat diets are commonly recommended for coronary heart disease patients, potentially lowering both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL cholesterol.
  • HDL subpopulations, particularly the apoA-I-only alpha(1) subpopulation, differ between low and normal HDL-C subjects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how low-fat diets differentially affect HDL subpopulations in normolipidemic men with low versus normal HDL-C levels.
  • To test the hypothesis that normal HDL-C subjects experience a greater decrease in HDL-C on a low-fat diet compared to low HDL-C subjects.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized crossover study involving normolipidemic male subjects consuming three diets varying in fat content (37%, 28%, 24% total fat) for 6 weeks each.
  • Measurement of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins.
  • Evaluation of changes in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subpopulations, including the alpha(1) subpopulation.

Main Results:

  • Low HDL-C subjects showed a slight decrease in HDL-C but a substantial decrease in LDL-C, significantly improving their LDL-C/HDL-C ratio.
  • Normal HDL-C subjects experienced decreases in both LDL-C and HDL-C, resulting in an unchanged LDL-C/HDL-C ratio.
  • Low-fat diets led to a decrease in the large apoA-I-only alpha(1) subpopulation in normal HDL-C individuals, indicating a redistribution of HDL subpopulations.

Conclusions:

  • Normolipidemic male subjects with low HDL-C respond more favorably to low-fat diets than those with normal HDL-C.
  • Low-fat diets can improve the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in individuals with low HDL-C.
  • Dietary interventions impact HDL subpopulations differently based on baseline HDL-C levels.

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