THE EFFECTS OF HIGH-CARBOHYDRATE VERSUS HIGH-FAT DIETARY ADVICE ON PLASMA-LIPIDS, LIPOPROTEINS, APOLIPOPROTEINS, AND PERFORMANCE IN ENDURANCE-TRAINED CYCLISTS

Background and aim: High fat diets are not widely recommended because of the potentially adverse effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins a nd because a high carbohydrate intake is considered necessary in optim ising endurance performance. Methods and Results: We have compared the effects of diets high in carbohydrate, HC, (60% total energy from car bohydrate, 20% from fat), or relatively high in fat, HF (40% energy fr om carbohydrate, 45% from fat), predominantly saturated fat, on perfor mance and plasma lipids in endurance cyclists (n=34) during a 3-month training period There were no significant differences in blood lipid a nd lipoprotein levels between the two diet groups throughout the study However, plasma total cholesterol (TC) (p=0.011), low density lipopro tein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p=0.013), and apolipoprotein B (apo B) (p=0. 024) significantly decreased mad apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) (p=0.015) increased significantly in both groups from baseline to week 12. The H DL-C/LDL-C (p=0.0003), and HDL-C/TC (p=0.001), ratios increased signif icantly in both groups over the same period Physical performance was s imilar On the two diets. Conclusions: The findings suggest that exerci se produces favourable effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, Lend this effect persists over a wide range of dietary intakes in enduranc e athletes involved in severe routines of endurance training. (C) 1996 , Medikal Press