Effects of reduced fat intake on serum lipids in healthy young men and women at the U.S. Military Academy.

To assess the benefits of Army nutrition initiatives reducing intakes of fat and cholesterol, the authors studied the dietary intakes of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy and compared these results and related nutritional indicators (body composition, serum lipid status) to data obtained one decade earlier. The regular Cadet Mess menu provided 16.6 MJ/day of energy with 34% derived from fat. Actual intakes, including supplements, averaged 14.9 +/- 2.9 and 9.7 +/- 2.1 MJ/day for 119 male and 86 female cadets, respectively. Most cadets derived < 35% of energy from dietary fat (11% from saturated fatty acids), representing a significant reduction since the previous study, in which nearly one-third of cadets received 40 to 45% of calories from fats; cholesterol intakes were markedly reduced. Serum cholesterol levels were approximately 7% lower, but were less affected than predicted by the reductions in fat and cholesterol intakes; serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was also significantly reduced. Fasting serum insulin correlated with saturated fat intake in female cadets, indicating another health risk factor affected by intakes. The authors conclude that nutrition initiatives reducing energy derived from fats and total cholesterol intake have had a beneficial effect on the nutritional status of this fit young population.