EFFECT OF DIETARY-FAT SATURATION ON LIPOP ROTEIN (A) PLASMA-LEVELS

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(l) is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease. Lp(a)plasma concentration mainly depends on genetic po lymorphism. The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of dietary f at saturation on Lp(a) plasma concentration. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: For ty two subjects (eighteen women and twenty four men) were placed in fo ur consecutive 5 weeks diet periods. Energy intake from proteins, carb ohydrates and fats was constant during the study and there were only c hanges on fatty acids composition. First period was enriched in satura ted fatty acids (SFA), second period in monounsaturated fatty acids (M UFA) and third and fourth periods were enriched in polyunsaturated fat ty acids (PUFA). Fourth period was also enriched in PUFA n-3 (blue fis h). RESULTS: Changes on dietary fat saturation had a significant effec t on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Lp(a) plasma concentration was mi nimum in SFA phase (6.8 [SD 7.3] mg/dl), increasing during MUFA phase (8.7 [8.51] mg/dl) and was maximum in PUFA n-6 and PUFA n-3 (11.5 [11. 1] and 12.7 [11.9] mg/dl, respectively) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Cha nges on dietary fat saturation significantly modify Lp(a) plasma conce ntration. These variations went in opposite direction to LDL-cholester ol modifications and were clinically irrelevant.