Effects of hypocaloric dietary treatment enriched in oleic acid on LDL andHDL subclass distribution in madly obese women

Objective. To study the effects of a carbohydrate-enriched (HiCarbo) or oli ve-oil-enriched (HiMUFA) hypocaloric diet on plasma lipoprotein levels and physical properties. Design. A six-month follow-up dietary intervention study with a HiCarbo die t providing 60% of total calories as complex carbohydrates, 15% as proteins and 25% as fats [10% saturated (SFA); 7% monounsaturated (MUFA); 8% polyun saturated fatty acids (PUFA)]; or a HiMUFA diet with 40% complex carbohydra tes, 15% proteins and 45% fats (10% SFA; 27% MUFA; 8% PUFA). Subjects. Twenty consecutive, mildly obese, normolipidemic premenopausal wo men (11 on HiCarbo and nine on HIMUFA diets) and 14 age- and sex-matched, l ean controls. Measurements. Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, plasma lipoproteins, apolipoprotein (apo) AI and B, LDL and HDL density distribution, and phosph olipid fatty acid composition at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months on diet ary treatment. Results. Body weight progressively decreased during the first 3 months and then it stabilized during the following 3 months (-11% vs. baseline in both groups; P<0.01). LDL-Cholesterol decreased significantly in both groups. H DL-Cholesterol increased significantly in the HiMUFA group, whereas a decre ased level was observed in the HiCarbo group. Al baseline the obese women h ad higher very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and dense LDL-Cholesterol, an d lower HDL, cholesterol levels than the controls; these abnormalities pers isted in the HiCarbo diet, whilst a significant decrease in the dense LDL a ssociated with an increase in the HDL, cholesterol was seen in the HiMUFA d iet. HDL, was not affected by either diet. The LDL/HDL-Cholesterol ratio wa s not affected by the HiCarbo diet, whilst it was significantly reduced aft er 6 months of HiMUFA diet as compared with baseline. Apo AI increased in t he HiMUFA group, and decreased in the HiCarbo group. Conclusions. Both diets were effective in decreasing body weight. At steady weight conditions, only the HiMUFA diet improved LDL and HDL subclass dist ribution abnormalities present in mildly obese normolipidemic women.