[The importance of the carbohydrate portion in a synthetic diet]

The influence of an almost fat-free and carbohydrate-rich diet on different serum parameters was investigated in human volunteers. These studies were supplemented by animal experiments where the effects of different additions of carbohydrates were compared. In human volunteers the fat-free and carbohydrate-rich diet caused a decrease in serum cholesterol concentration. This effect was especially seen when the initial cholesterol values were elevated. Exchange of the glucose carbohydrates (consisting predominantly of oligosaccharides) by frutose or by surose was without an influence on serum concentrations of cholesterol or triglycerides. No signs of carbohydrate-induced hyperlipemia were seen in human volunteers. Only under extreme conditions (60% fructose in the diet) a moderate increase in serum triglyceride concentration was found in animal experiments. However, serum cholesterol was unaltered even under these conditions. Additionally, no significant influence on fat concentration in the liver (triglycerides or cholesterol) was seen. Only using an imbalanced diet (80% glucose or 80% fructose) a slight increase in fat content of the liver and a moderate hypertriglyceridemia were observed. The concentration of serum cholesterol remained unaltered, cholesterol concentration in the liver diminished slightly. These experimental results are considered as evidence that only the extreme situation of a food imbalance (or hypernutrition) can cause a so-called carbohydrate-induced hyperlipemia.