LECITHIN HAS NO EFFECT ON SERUM-LIPOPROTEIN, PLASMA-FIBRINOGEN AND MACRO MOLECULAR PROTEIN COMPLEX LEVELS IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC MEN IN A DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED-STUDY

Objective: To examine the effects of lecithin on serum lipoprotein, pl asma fibrinogen and macro molecular protein complex (MPC) levels. Subj ects and study design: Twenty free living hyperlipidaemic men particip ated in this double-blind study which controlled for possible indirect effects. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatmen ts. frozen yoghurt or frozen yoghurt with 20g soya bean lecithin or fr ozen yoghurt with 17g sunflower oil. Sunflower oil was used to control for the increased energy and linoleic acid intake from lecithin. Yogh urt served as the 'vehicle' for the lecithin and sunflower oil and yog hurt alone was given to one group to control for possible effects due to the yoghurt 'vehicle', as well as other environmental influences. V ariables were measured with standard methods twice at baseline and aft er 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Results: Plasma linoleic acid levels in creased significantly with lecithin and sunflower oil treatments indic ating that compliance to the treatments were obtained. Lecithin treatm ent did not have significant effects on serum total cholesterol, trigl yceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B or lipoprotein (a) le vels. Plasma fibrinogen and MPC levels were also not affected by lecit hin therapy. Sunflower oil treatment resulted in significant increased body weight, serum TC and decreased MPC levels. Conclusion: Lecithin treatment had no independent effects on serum lipoprotein, plasma fibr inogen or MPC levels in hyperlipidaemic men.