Mann J
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Br J Nutr. 1997 Apr;77 Suppl 1:S83-90. doi: 10.1079/bjn19970106.
Epidemiological data suggesting benefits of increased meal frequency on CHD risk and lipid and lipoprotein levels may be flawed because of biases associated with the method of data collection. In normolipidaemic individuals increasing meal frequency from three to six or more meals daily over a period of several weeks appears to be associated with reduced levels of total and LDL-cholesterol, possibly due to reduced cholesterol synthesis or enhancement of reverse cholesterol transport. However, in non-obese individuals with polygenic hyperlipidaemia and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, altered meal frequency does not appear to confer similar benefits. The reasons for the different responses in these groups of subjects is not clear. The reported effects of altered meal frequency on diurnal levels of triacylglycerols and fatty acids are more variable, with benefits being reported principally in association with meal frequencies exceeding those which might be translated into practical recommendations. Present data preclude recommendations concerning meal frequency on the basis of effects on lipids and lipoproteins. Even in healthy individuals amongst whom benefits have been observed, the periods of observation have been relatively short and it is not known whether adaptation occurs. Further research should focus on longer-term studies in healthy individuals as well as hyperinsulinaemic and diabetic subjects. For those individuals choosing to have a large number of small meals each day, it is relevant to emphasize that no untoward effects of increased meal frequency on lipids or lipoproteins have been demonstrated.
流行病学数据表明，增加进餐频率对冠心病风险以及脂质和脂蛋白水平有益，但由于与数据收集方法相关的偏差，这些数据可能存在缺陷。在血脂正常的个体中，在数周时间内将进餐频率从每日三餐增加至六餐或更多餐，似乎与总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平降低有关，这可能是由于胆固醇合成减少或胆固醇逆向转运增强所致。然而，在患有多基因高脂血症和非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病的非肥胖个体中，改变进餐频率似乎并未带来类似的益处。这些不同人群出现不同反应的原因尚不清楚。关于进餐频率改变对三酰甘油和脂肪酸日间水平的影响，报道的结果更具变异性，主要是在进餐频率超过可能转化为实际建议的频率时才报告有好处。目前的数据无法基于对脂质和脂蛋白的影响就进餐频率给出建议。即使在已观察到有益效果的健康个体中，观察期也相对较短，且尚不清楚是否会发生适应性变化。进一步的研究应侧重于对健康个体以及高胰岛素血症和糖尿病患者进行长期研究。对于那些选择每天少食多餐的个体，需要强调的是，尚未证实增加进餐频率会对脂质或脂蛋白产生不良影响。
