To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: ECO: Low-Fat, High-Carbohydrate Diets Not Necessarily Cause Hypertriglyceridemia URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1FCCCE.htm Doctor's Guide May 31, 2001
By Jill Stein Special to DG News VIENNA, AUSTRIA -- May 31, 2001 -- A low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet need not result in increased fasting and postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations if dietary fat is replaced with complex carbohydrates rather than sugar, according to a small study. The findings were presented at the 11th European Congress on Obesity (ECO) by Dr. Katherine S. Culling and colleagues at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford, United Kingdom. Their trial included five normal weight normolipemic subjects who followed three different three-day isoenergetic, weight maintenance diets. Each diet was separated by at least one month. The diets were: high-fat (50 percent fat, 35 percent carbohydrate and 15 percent protein), high-sugar (70 percent carbohydrate, 40 percent as sucrose and 30 percent as complex carbohydrate, 15 percent fat, 15 percent protein), and high-starch (70 percent carbohydrate, with 40 percent as complex carbohydrate and 30 percent as sucrose, 15 percent fat and 15 percent protein.) The present study aimed to look at whether the type of carbohydrate consumed had any effect on the degree of hypertriglyceridemia observed. Low-fat diets have been established as the optimal way to lose weight and maintain weight loss, Dr. Culling said. Decreasing dietary fat usually leads to an increased carbohydrate intake. Recently, concern has been expressed that these low-fat, high carbohydrate diets cause hypertriglyceridemia, a known risk factor for coronary heart disease. Each diet was followed by a study day where fasting and postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations were measured. Study participants also received an identical mixed meal. Results showed that diet had a significant effect on fasting triacylglycerol levels, Dr. Culling reported. Fasting triacylglycerol levels were significantly higher after the sugar diet compared with the high fat diet and high starch diet. There was no significant difference between fasting triacylglycerol concentrations on the high starch compared to the high fat diet. While the high sugar diet significantly increased plasma triacylglycerol concentrations, compared with the high starch diet and high fat diet, there was no significant difference between triacylglycerol concentrations on the high starch compared with the high fat diet. While the data suggest that a low fat diet won't produce increased fasting and postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations if complex carbohydrates in lieu of sugar are used to replace dietary fat, more research is needed with these diets to explore this issue, Dr. Culling said. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.