Modification in the composition and metabolic properties of human low density and high density lipoproteins by different dietary fats.

The chemical composition and metabolism of lipoproteins in a population of Benedictine nuns were studied after 5-month periods during which the predominant dietary fats were sunflower oil, peanut oil, palm oil, or milk fats (butter and cream). The population was divided into three groups. The control group (C) included twelve subjects selected at random by taking two subjects per age pool among those with plasma cholesterol less than 230 mg/dl. Groups H1 and H2 were selected at random in the same way, among those with plasma cholesterol greater than 230 mg/dl. Each group comprised six subjects and differed from each other in the amount of plasma cholesteryl esters, i.e., below and above the mean value of group C, for H1 and H2, respectively. Changes in the degree of saturation of the predominant fat of the diet were associated with changes in both the chemical composition of lipoproteins and their cellular metabolism studied in fibroblast cultures. No significant difference between the normocholesterolemic subjects of group C and the "high risk" subjects of groups H1 and H2 was found.