EFFECTS OF A MACADAMIA NUT ENRICHED DIET ON SERUM-LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS COMPARED TO A LOW-FAT DIET

Macadamia nuts are a native Australian food rich in the monounsaturate d fats, oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. A monounsaturated fatty acid- rich diet (MD), enriched with macadamia nuts (40% energy as fat, 20% e nergy from macadamia nuts) was compaared with a high-complex-carbohydr ate diet (HC) for effects on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels. Subje cts (7 female, 7 male) between 25 and 59 years of age were randomly al located either to MD followed by HC, or vice versa. Each dietary phase lasted 4 weeks. Both diets lowered serum cholesterol by 7.9% (p<0.01) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) by 10.7% (p<0.01) compa red with baseline values. The MD led to a 20.9% decrease in serum trig lyceride levers (p<0.01). Triglyceride levels were not affected by HC. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) decreased 13.1% with HC (p <0.05). MD and HC were equally effective in lowering serum cholesterol acid LDL levels, and MD unlike HC lowered triglyceride levels without affecting HDL levels.