EFFECTS OF CONSUMPTION OF MEAT PRODUCT RICH IN MONOUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS (THE HAM FROM THE IBERIAN PIG) ON PLASMA-LIPIDS

The fat from the acorn-fed Iberian ham (AFM) has a high content of ole ic acid (60% of total fat) in spite of being from animal origin. The p urpose of this study was to assess whether the consumption of a diet r ich in oleic acid, a part of which was from AFIH, would have the same effect on the plasma lipids as another diet with the same amount of ol eic acid but coming from olive oil. Variations in plasma lipids profil e were studied in a group of 19 post-menopausal women. They were given two diets rich in oleic acid (22% of energy intake). In the first die t the oleic acid came from olive oil and AFM (OQI-AFIH). In the second diet the oleic acid came only from olive oil (OO). The composition of the diets was the same in both periods. Plasma total cholesterol, tri glycerides, LDL cholesterol, and fibrinogen levels dropped significant ly after the OO+AFIH diet while they were sustained after the OO diet. HDL cholesterol, Apo A and B and lipoprotein (a) did not vary signifi cantly. No prejudicial effects on the lipid profile was observed in th is study after the consumption of this meat product rich in oleic acid . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.