Abstract
Background
Milk has a specific saturated fatty acid profile and its calcium content may change the kinetics of fat absorption.
Objective
The goal of this study was to compare the effect on LDL Cholesterol and other risk markers of four isolipidic diets differing by their fat food source, vegetable fat, spring milk fat, winter milk fat or winter milk fat supplemented with calcium, in healthy moderately hypercholesterolemic humans.
Individuals and methods
This double-blind, randomized trial with four parallel arms included 172 healthy adults with plasma LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) from 130 to 220 mg/dL and triglycerides below 300 mg/dL. Individual meal plans ensured a stable energy intake. In the three diets containing milk fat, milk fat provided 38% of energy. Vegetable fat and spring milk fat diets provided the same amount of saturated fatty acids while the winter milk fat diets were slightly richer in saturated fatty acids. Vegetable fat diet and winter milk fat diets provided the same amount of palmitic acid (7.0% EI), while the spring milk fat diet was slightly poorer in this fatty acid (5.1% EI). Cardiovascular risk markers were analyzed after 8 weeks of dietary intervention.
Results
There was no significant difference in LDL-C and other markers, except total cholesterol (TC), apo C3 and CRP. TC was significantly higher with spring milk fat than with vegetable fat.
Conclusions
In this trial, the chosen vegetable fat did not have a significant beneficial effect on LDL-C compared to dairy fat. However, sub-group analysis showed differences in TC, apo C3 and CRP. These results need confirmation and long-term studies aiming at cardiovascular endpoints are warranted.
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the contribution of the members of the INNOVALAIT Study group in the set up and follow up of the study.
Members of the INNOVALAIT Study group
Pascale Leruyet7, Daniel Moreau8, Benoit Goldschmidt9, Michel Bonneau10, Philippe Marchal11, Hervé Durand12
Funding
This study was supported by grants from French government, CNIEL, BBA and local funding (Pays de la Loire and Britany).
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All authors contributed to the study and paper preparation. In addition, JMB, LD, DL, MC, CM were involved in the study protocol writing and result review. MC was involved in study organization and monitoring. JMB, MC, CBdS, EN and JCM were involved in biological analyses. CBD was involved in diet inquiry analysis.
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Members of the INNOVALAIT Study group are listed below acknowledgements
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Bard, JM., Drouet, L., Lairon, D. et al. Effect of milk fat on LDL cholesterol and other cardiovascular risk markers in healthy humans: the INNOVALAIT project. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 285–296 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0528-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0528-4
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