Differential impact of milk fatty acid profiles on cardiovascular risk biomarkers in healthy men and women.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the impact of three specific ruminant milk fats with varying trans fatty acid (R-TFA) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratios on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy volunteers.
Results Summary
The study found that a moderate increase in the R-TFA/SFA ratio (L4 diet) improved some cardiovascular risk factors, such as reducing LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol, but further increases (L9 diet) showed no additional benefits. Plasma HDL-cholesterol levels remained unchanged across all diets.
Population
111 healthy, normolipemic men and women.
Effective Dosage
55 g fat per day, delivered via butter, dessert cream, and cookies.
Duration
4 weeks (1-week run-in, 3-week intervention).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
L0 diet (dairy products containing 72% SFA/2.85% R-TFA) | no change | Plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol | healthy volunteers | P=0.38 | were not significantly altered | #1 |
L4 diet (dairy products containing 63.3% SFA/4.06% R-TFA) | decrease | low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol | healthy volunteers | -0.14+/-0.38 mmol/l, P=0.04 | contributed to reduce | #2 |
L4 diet (dairy products containing 63.3% SFA/4.06% R-TFA) | decrease | total cholesterol | healthy volunteers | -0.13+/-0.50 mmol/l, P=0.04 | contributed to reduce | #3 |
L4 diet (dairy products containing 63.3% SFA/4.06% R-TFA) | decrease | LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol | healthy volunteers | -0.14+/-0.36, P=0.03 | contributed to reduce | #4 |
L4 diet (dairy products containing 63.3% SFA/4.06% R-TFA) | decrease | total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol | healthy volunteers | -0.18+/-0.44, P=0.02 | contributed to reduce | #5 |
Different milk fat profiles | neutral | cardiovascular plasma parameters | human healthy volunteers | - | can change | #6 |
A limited increase of the R-TFA/SFA ratio in dairy products | decrease | some cardiovascular risk factors | - | - | is associated with an improvement | #7 |
A further increase in R-TFA/SFA ratio | no change | - | - | - | has no additional benefit | #8 |
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of three specific ruminant (R) milk fats resulting from modification of the cow's diet on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy volunteers. R-milk fats were characterized by increased content in total trans fatty acids (R-TFAs) and parallel decrease in saturated fatty acids (SFAs). SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 111 healthy, normolipemic men and women have been recruited for a monocentric, randomized, double-blind and parallel intervention, 4-week controlled study. Volunteers consumed three experimental products (butter, dessert cream and cookies) made with one of the three specific milk fats (55 g fat per day). During the first week (run-in period), the subjects consumed on a daily basis dairy products containing 72% SFA/2.85% R-TFA (called 'L0'). For the next 3 weeks of the study (intervention period), the first group continued to consume L0 products. The second group received dairy products containing 63.3% SFA/4.06% R-TFA (called 'L4'), and the third group received dairy products containing 56.6% SFA/12.16% R-TFA (called 'L9'). RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were not significantly altered by either diet (P=0.38). Compared to L0 diet, L4 diet contributed to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (-0.14+/-0.38 mmol/l, P=0.04), total cholesterol (-0.13+/-0.50 mmol/l, P=0.04), LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (-0.14+/-0.36, P=0.03) and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (-0.18+/-0.44, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Different milk fat profiles can change cardiovascular plasma parameters in human healthy volunteers. A limited increase of the R-TFA/SFA ratio in dairy products is associated with an improvement in some cardiovascular risk factors. However, a further increase in R-TFA/SFA ratio has no additional benefit.