Adding monounsaturated fats to diet ‘improves cholesterol levels’
November 2nd, 2010 - 5:50 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Nov 2 (ANI): A new study found that the addition of monounsaturated fat (MUFA) to a cholesterol-lowering dietary portfolio in patients with mild to moderate elevated cholesterol levels increased HDL by 12.5 percent and lowered LDL levels by 35 percent.
Low HDL-C levels and high LDL-C levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The addition of dietary monounsaturated fat, common in the Mediterranean diet, is a current approach to raising HDL-C levels.
The study included 24 patients (17 men and 7 postmenopausal women) who completed a very low saturated fat diet before being randomly assigned to either a high-MUFA diet or a low- MUFA diet.
Both groups of patients were assigned to a specific vegetarian diet which included oats, barley, psyllium, eggplant, okra, soy, almonds and a plant sterol enriched margarine.
In the high-MUFA group, the researchers substituted 13% of calories from carbohydrates with high-MUFA sunflower oil, with the option of a partial exchange with avocado oil.
They found significant reductions in blood cholesterol levels over the two-month study period for participants.
“The replacement of 13percent of total calories from carbohydrate by monounsaturated fats in the dietary portfolio resulted in a 12.5% greater increase in HDL-C over the four weeks, while not altering the substantial LDL-C reduction,” wrote Dr. David Jenkins, Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, with coauthors.
The study was published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). (ANI)
- Routine periodic fasting good for health, heart - Apr 04, 2011
- Leading cholesterol tests not always accurate: Study - Jul 14, 2010
- Eat nuts to bring down cholesterol levels - May 11, 2010
- Plant-based, low-carb diet may help lose weight, improve cholesterol levels - Jun 09, 2009
- High-fat diet lowers blood sugar in diabetics - May 13, 2012
- Eat nuts to improve cholesterol levels - May 11, 2010
- Low-carb diets better for easing weight: Study - Dec 13, 2011
- Low-Carbohydrate Diet Beats Low-Fat Diet In Decreasing Heart Risk - Aug 04, 2010
- Dark chocolate may reduce cardio risks, study shows - Apr 25, 2012
- 'Bad cholesterol' also vital for health - May 06, 2011
- Mediterranean diet a sound recipe for healthy living - Mar 08, 2011
- Statin can prevent strokes, besides lowering lipids - Jan 05, 2012
- Some 'good' cholesterol unable to protect heart - May 09, 2012
- Eating apples every day keep women's cholesterol at bay - Apr 13, 2011
- Calories, not carbs, key to weight loss - Feb 08, 2012
Tags: avocado oil, blood cholesterol levels, c levels, canadian medical association, canadian medical association journal, clinical nutrition, david jenkins, ldl levels, low saturated fat diet, medical association journal, mediterranean diet, monounsaturated fats, mufa, partial exchange, postmenopausal women, psyllium, risk factor modification, s hospital, sunflower oil, vegetarian diet