Effect of a stearic acid-rich, structured triacylglycerol on plasma lipid concentrations.

BACKGROUND

Structured lipids are being incorporated into foods to reduce their energy value. One such lipid is rich in stearic acid.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the effects on plasma lipids of a stearic acid-rich triacylglycerol and a fat rich in palmitic acid in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

DESIGN

Fifteen subjects with an average plasma cholesterol concentration of 6.13 +/- 0.80 mmol/L initially ate a low-fat diet for 2 wk (run-in period), followed in random order and blinded fashion by 2 high-fat diets (for 5 wk each) containing foods derived from margarines rich either in palmitic acid or in the structured, stearic acid-rich triacylglycerol.

RESULTS

Plasma cholesterol concentrations with the low-fat, the stearic acid-rich, and the palmitic acid-rich diets were not significantly different (5.35 +/- 0.83, 5.41 +/- 0.78, and 5.52 +/- 0.68 mmol/L, respectively) but were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those measured during the habitual diet period (ie, 2 wk before the study began). Neither HDL cholesterol nor plasma triacylglycerol differed significantly among the 3 study diets.

CONCLUSION

A similar increase in the intake of stearic and palmitic acids (differing by approximately 5% of total energy) to ensure a high fat intake resulted in plasma total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations that did not differ significantly from concentrations measured during a period of low-fat intake.