POSTPRANDIAL TRIACYLGLYCEROLAEMIA - THE EFFECT OF LOW-FAT DIETARY-TREATMENT WITH AND WITHOUT FISH-OIL SUPPLEMENTATION

Objective: This study investigated whether a low-dose of fish oil had the ability to prevent the adverse effects associated with low-fat die tary treatment, namely elevated plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) and reduc ed high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. Design: Thirty-two healthy volunteers participated in the trial, which consist ed of four study groups (n = 8): low-fat diet with fish oil supplement ation, low-fat diet without fish oil supplementation, full-fat diet wi th fish oil supplementation and full-fat diet without fish oil supplem entation. Low-fat dietary treatment reduced dietary energy derived fro m fat by at least 10% and the low-dose of fish oil provided 1 g n-3 po lyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) daily. The postprandial response to a fat-rich test meal (0.5 g/kg pre-trial body weight) was investigated before and after 16 weeks dietary intervention. Results: Fasting plasm a TAG concentrations were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) reduced by fish oil supplementation and significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased by the low-fat diet alone but not significan tly affected following the low-fat diet with fish oil supplementation. The postprandial TAG response was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) increased following the low-fat diet with fish oil supplemen tation. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that some of the deleterio us effects of a low-fat diet, reduced concentrations of the cardioprot ective HDL(2) cholesterol fraction and increased fasting plasma TAG co ncentrations were prevented when a low dose of fish oil was provided w ith a low-fat diet. However postprandial triacylglycerolaemia is adver sely affected when the low-fat diet was supplemented with fish oil.