American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 65, 1419-1426, Copyright © 1997 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Stearic acid, trans fatty acids, and dairy fat: effects on serum and lipoprotein lipids, apolipoproteins, lipoprotein(a), and lipid transfer proteins in healthy subjects

A Aro, M Jauhiainen, R Partanen, I Salminen and M Mutanen
Department of Nutrition, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. Antti.Aro@ktl.fi

To compare the effects on serum lipoproteins of stearic acid, trans fatty acids, and dairy fat, 80 healthy subjects consumed a dairy fat- based (baseline) diet for 5 wk, then an experimental diet high in either trans fatty acids (8.7% of energy; n = 40) or stearic acid (9.3% of energy; n = 40) for another 5 wk. All diets provided 32.2-33.9% of energy as fat, 14.6-15.8% as saturated plus trans fatty acids, 11.4- 12.5% as cis-monounsaturated fatty acids, 2.9-3.5% as polyunsaturated fatty acids, and 200-221 mg cholesterol/10 MJ. Compared with the dairy fat diet, stearic acid and trans fatty acids decreased serum total cholesterol concentrations similarly (by 13% and 12%, respectively, P < 0.001) but the trans fatty acid diet decreased HDL cholesterol (17%) and apolipoprotein (apo) A-I (15%) significantly more than did the stearic acid diet (11% and 12%, respectively). Stearic acid but not trans fatty acids reduced concentrations of LDL cholesterol and apo B significantly (P < 0.001). The trans fatty acid diet increased the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol (19%) and of apo B to apo A-I (16%) more than did the dairy fat diet (P < 0.001) but the stearic acid diet had no effect. Lipoprotein(a) concentrations increased with both experimental diets, significantly more with trans fatty acids (30%) than with stearic acid (10%). In conclusion, high amounts of trans fatty acids had more adverse effects on lipoproteins than did equal amounts of stearic acid and dairy fat. Stearic acid reduced LDL cholesterol, did not affect the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol, and increased lipoprotein(a), although to a lesser extent than did trans fatty acids. Dietary fats low in both saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids should be favored.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. H. Eckel, S. Borra, A. H. Lichtenstein, and S. Y. Yin-Piazza Understanding the Complexity of Trans Fatty Acid Reduction in the American Diet: American Heart Association Trans Fat Conference 2006: Report of the Trans Fat Conference Planning Group Circulation, April 24, 2007; 115(16): 2231 - 2246. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P. Zaloga, K. A. Harvey, W. Stillwell, and R. Siddiqui Trans Fatty Acids and Coronary Heart Disease Nutr Clin Pract, October 1, 2006; 21(5): 505 - 512. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Mozaffarian, M. B. Katan, A. Ascherio, M. J. Stampfer, and W. C. Willett Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease N. Engl. J. Med., April 13, 2006; 354(15): 1601 - 1613. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. D. Mooradian, M. J. Haas, and N. C. W. Wong The Effect of Select Nutrients on Serum High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Apolipoprotein A-I Levels Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2006; 27(1): 2 - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-J. Tsai, M. F. Leitzmann, W. C. Willett, and E. L. Giovannucci Long-term Intake of trans-Fatty Acids and Risk of Gallstone Disease in Men Arch Intern Med, May 9, 2005; 165(9): 1011 - 1015. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Tholstrup, C. Ehnholm, M. Jauhiainen, M. Petersen, C.-E. Hoy, P. Lund, and B. Sandstrom Effects of medium-chain fatty acids and oleic acid on blood lipids, lipoproteins, glucose, insulin, and lipid transfer protein activities Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2004; 79(4): 564 - 569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Clifton, J. B. Keogh, and M. Noakes Trans Fatty Acids in Adipose Tissue and the Food Supply Are Associated with Myocardial Infarction J. Nutr., April 1, 2004; 134(4): 874 - 879. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P Mensink, P. L Zock, A. D. Kester, and M. B Katan Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2003; 77(5): 1146 - 1155. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Baylin, E. K. Kabagambe, A. Ascherio, D. Spiegelman, and H. Campos High 18:2 Trans-Fatty Acids in Adipose Tissue Are Associated with Increased Risk of Nonfatal Acute Myocardial Infarction in Costa Rican Adults J. Nutr., April 1, 2003; 133(4): 1186 - 1191. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				References Circulation, December 17, 2002; 106(25): 3373 - 3421. [Full Text]

				F. B. Hu and W. C. Willett Optimal Diets for Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease JAMA, November 27, 2002; 288(20): 2569 - 2578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Dashti, Q. Feng, M. R. Freeman, M. Gandhi, and F. A. Franklin Trans Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Have More Adverse Effects than Saturated Fatty Acids on the Concentration and Composition of Lipoproteins Secreted by Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells J. Nutr., September 1, 2002; 132(9): 2651 - 2659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M. de Roos, M. L. Bots, and M. B. Katan Replacement of Dietary Saturated Fatty Acids by Trans Fatty Acids Lowers Serum HDL Cholesterol and Impairs Endothelial Function in Healthy Men and Women Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., July 1, 2001; 21(7): 1233 - 1237. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Lichtenstein, M. Jauhiainen, S. McGladdery, L. M. Ausman, S. M. Jalbert, M. Vilella-Bach, C. Ehnholm, J. Frohlich, and E. J. Schaefer Impact of hydrogenated fat on high density lipoprotein subfractions and metabolism J. Lipid Res., April 1, 2001; 42(4): 597 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. A. Sanders, F. R Oakley, J. A Cooper, and G. J Miller Influence of a stearic acid-rich structured triacylglycerol on postprandial lipemia, factor VII concentrations, and fibrinolytic activity in healthy subjects Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2001; 73(4): 715 - 721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M. de Roos, E. G. Schouten, and M. B. Katan Consumption of a Solid Fat Rich in Lauric Acid Results in a More Favorable Serum Lipid Profile in Healthy Men and Women than Consumption of a Solid Fat Rich in trans-Fatty Acids J. Nutr., February 1, 2001; 131(2): 242 - 245. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				N. Dashti, Q. Feng, and F. A. Franklin Long-term effects of cis and trans monounsaturated (18:1) and saturated (16:0) fatty acids on the synthesis and secretion of apolipoprotein A-I- and apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins in HepG2 cells J. Lipid Res., December 1, 2000; 41(12): 1980 - 1990. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. L. Ashton, F. S. Dalais, and M. J. Ball Effect of Meat Replacement by Tofu on CHD Risk Factors Including Copper Induced LDL Oxidation J. Am. Coll. Nutr., June 1, 2000; 19(6): 761 - 767. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. R. Matthan, L. M. Ausman, A. H. Lichtenstein, and P. J. H. Jones Hydrogenated fat consumption affects cholesterol synthesis in moderately hypercholesterolemic women J. Lipid Res., May 1, 2000; 41(5): 834 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				W. E Connor Harbingers of coronary heart disease: dietary saturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Is chocolate benign because of its stearic acid content? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 1999; 70(6): 951 - 952. [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. B Hu, M. J Stampfer, J. E Manson, A. Ascherio, G. A Colditz, F. E Speizer, C. H Hennekens, and W. C Willett Dietary saturated fats and their food sources in relation to the risk of coronary heart disease in women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 1999; 70(6): 1001 - 1008. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Lichtenstein, L. M. Ausman, S. M. Jalbert, and E. J. Schaefer Effects of Different Forms of Dietary Hydrogenated Fats on Serum Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels N. Engl. J. Med., June 24, 1999; 340(25): 1933 - 1940. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ascherio, M. B. Katan, P. L. Zock, M. J. Stampfer, and W. C. Willett Trans Fatty Acids and Coronary Heart Disease N. Engl. J. Med., June 24, 1999; 340(25): 1994 - 1998. [Full Text]

				C. Desrumaux, A. Athias, G. Bessede, B. Verges, M. Farnier, L. Persegol, P. Gambert, and L. Lagrost Mass Concentration of Plasma Phospholipid Transfer Protein in Normolipidemic, Type IIa Hyperlipidemic, Type IIb Hyperlipidemic, and Non–Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Subjects as Measured by a Specific ELISA Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., February 1, 1999; 19(2): 266 - 275. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. V. Subbaiah, V. S. Subramanian, and M. Liu Trans unsaturated fatty acids inhibit lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase and alter its positional specificity J. Lipid Res., July 1, 1998; 39(7): 1438 - 1447. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. M. Turpeinen, J. Wubert, A. Aro, R. Lorenz, and M. Mutanen Similar Effects of Diets Rich in Stearic Acid or trans-Fatty Acids on Platelet Function and Endothelial Prostacyclin Production in Humans Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., February 1, 1998; 18(2): 316 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]