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Exchanging carbohydrates for monounsaturated fats in energy-restricted diets: effects on metabolic profile and other cardiovascular risk factors

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 648–656 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, as observed in energy-balance conditions after exchanging carbohydrates (CHO) for monounsaturated (MUFA) fats, are also observed in energy-restricted conditions.

DESIGN: Longitudinal, clinical intervention study using two types of energy-restricted diets (−30% of initial energy intake) with similar levels of saturated and polyunsaturated fats: a high CHO diet (55% of energy from CHOs, 10% from MUFAs) and a high MUFA diet (40% of energy from CHOs, 25% from MUFAs).

SUBJECTS: A total of 32 overweight subjects (nine males, 23 females, BMI: 26–45 kg/m2).

MEASUREMENTS: Body weight, serum lipids, fasting plasma insulin and phospholipid fatty acid composition of red blood cells were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Various oxidative status parameters (plasma lipid hydroperoxides, total plasma antioxidant capacity, plasma uric acid and vitamin E) and serum-induced smooth muscular cell (SMC) proliferation were also measured at these time points.

RESULTS: Weight loss (1.1 kg/week over the first 4 weeks and 6.7 kg at week 8) was not significantly affected by the diet composition. Both diets reduced significantly total serum cholesterol, but the MUFA-rich diet showed better effects on fasting serum triacylglycerol (TG) than the CHO-rich diet: 1.18 vs 1.51 mmol/l for the MUFA-rich diet (after vs before, P<0.05) and 1.42 vs 1.62 for the CHO-rich diet. After 8 weeks, plasma vitamin E concentrations were positively associated with the oleic acid level of red blood cell phospholipids and showed opposite variations in both diets (increase with the MUFA-rich diet and decrease with the CHO-rich diet). Relative changes in SMC proliferation induced by sera were negatively associated with the ratio oleic:linoleic acid of red blood cell phospholipids and were significantly higher with the CHO-rich diet.

CONCLUSIONS: The MUFA-rich diet showed better effects on serum TG than the CHO-rich diet, even with energy restriction and weight loss. The results suggest also a protective effect of oleic acid on oxidative stress and SMC proliferation, two other important cardiovascular risk factors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Human Nutrition and Atherogenesis, University Institute of Clinical Research, Montpellier, Cedex, France

    C Colette, C Percheron, N Pares-Herbute, F Michel, T-C Pham, L Brillant & B Descomps

  2. Department of Metabolic Diseases, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier, France

    L Monnier

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  1. C Colette
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Correspondence to C Colette.

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Colette, C., Percheron, C., Pares-Herbute, N. et al. Exchanging carbohydrates for monounsaturated fats in energy-restricted diets: effects on metabolic profile and other cardiovascular risk factors. Int J Obes 27, 648–656 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802299

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