Dietary trans alpha-linolenic acid from deodorised rapeseed oil and plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy men: the TransLinE Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effects of trans alpha-linolenic acid, found in refined vegetable oils like rapeseed oil, on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy men.
Results Summary
The high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet significantly increased LDL-:HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratios, primarily due to elevated LDL-cholesterol, but had no effect on other lipid markers.
Population
Healthy European men from France, Scotland, the UK, and the Netherlands.
Effective Dosage
Daily intake of 1410 mg (range 583-2642 mg) of trans alpha-linolenic acid in the high-trans group.
Duration
6 weeks per dietary phase (run-in and intervention).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | increase | plasma LDL-:HDL-cholesterol ratio | healthy European men | 8.1 % | significantly increased | #1 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | increase | total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio | healthy European men | 5.1 % | significantly increased | #2 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | increase | LDL-cholesterol | healthy European men | 4.7 % | increase | #3 |
low trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | no change | LDL-cholesterol | healthy European men | - | no change was observed | #4 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | no change | total cholesterol | healthy European men | - | No effects were found | #5 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | no change | HDL-cholesterol | healthy European men | - | No effects were found | #6 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | no change | triacylglycerols | healthy European men | - | No effects were found | #7 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | no change | apolipoprotein B | healthy European men | - | No effects were found | #8 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | no change | apolipoprotein A-1 | healthy European men | - | No effects were found | #9 |
high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet | no change | lipoprotein(a) concentrations | healthy European men | - | No effects were found | #10 |
TRANS: isomers of alpha-linolenic acid, which are formed by deodorization of refined vegetable oils, can be found in significant amounts in edible oils. Effects of trans alpha-linolenic acid on plasma lipoproteins are unknown. We therefore investigated the effects of trans alpha-linolenic acid on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy European men. Eighty-eight healthy men from three European countries (France, Scotland, UK and the Netherlands) first consumed for 6 weeks a diet with experimental oils 'free' of trans fatty acids (run-in period). For the next 6 weeks, they were randomly allocated to a diet with experimental oils 'high' or 'low' in trans alpha-linolenic acid. Daily total trans alpha-linolenic acid intake in the high trans group was 1410 (range 583-2642) mg. Experimental oils were provided as such, or incorporated into margarines, cheeses, muffins and biscuits. The high trans alpha-linolenic acid diet significantly increased the plasma LDL-:HDL-cholesterol ratio by 8.1 % (95 % CI 1.4, 15.3; and the total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio by 5.1 % (95 % CI 0.4, 9.9; compared with the low-trans diet. This was largely explained by an increase in LDL-cholesterol on the high-trans diet, while no change was observed in the low-trans group (mean treatment effect of 4.7 % (95 % CI -0.8, 10.5; No effects were found on total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoprotein B and A-1, and lipoprotein(a) concentrations. In conclusion, trans alpha-linolenic acid may increase plasma LDL-:HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratios. Whether diet-induced changes in these ratios truly affects the risk for CHD remains to be established.