Gas chromatographic profiles of plasma total lipids as indicators of dietary history. Correlation with carbohydrate and alcohol intake based on 24-h dietary recall.

Quantitative gas chromatographic estimates of the major lipid classes and molecular species in fasting plasma were correlated with total carbohydrate, starch, fibre, sucrose and alcohol intake based on 24-h dietary recall. Spearman coefficients (rs) and tests of significance (P) were obtained for groups of 775 males and 471 females aged 20-59 years from a Toronto-McMaster Lipid Research Clinics Population Study. The most significant correlations varying from rs 0.1 to 0.2 and P 0.001 to 0.0005 (n = 400-773) were between increased intake of alcohol and increased ratios of C50/C54 triacylglycerols, C34/C36 phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylcholine/free cholesterol (PC/FC) of plasma. Increase in total dietary carbohydrate, starch and fibre correlated with decreasing C50/C54 triacylglycerol, C34/C36 phosphatidylcholine and PC/FC ratios (rs = -0.1-0.2; P less than 0.002-0.04; n = 400-773). In contrast, consumption of high levels of alcohol was associated with increasing C50/C54 triacylglycerol, C34/C36 phosphatidylcholine and PC/FC ratios. A high intake of alcohol (50-150 ml per day) distinguished itself from other simple carbohydrate-induced lipid profiles by its marked effect on increased C50/C52 triacylglycerol and PC/FC ratio.