THE EFFECT OF DPFM ON SERUM-LIPIDS IN NORMOLIPEMIC AND HYPERLIPEMIC SUBJECTS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

The effect of DPFM, a specially formulated nutritional supplement which enables an effective upward adjustment to be made in the polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio of the diet, on the serum lipid levels of both normo- and hyperlipemic male human subjects consuming an average South African diet was studied. After 6 wk on DPFM the mean fall in the serum total cholesterol (TC) level of the hypercholesterolemic group was 15.2% and that in the normal subjects 12%. In 13 of the 15 patients with hypertriglyceridemia the mean fall in the serum triglyceride level was 29%. The triglyceride response in normal subjects was variable, but the highest level attained (1.15 mmol/l) lay well within the normal reference range for this group. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level fell in every subject. In normal subjects the mean decrease was 14.1% while in the hypercholesterolemic group it was 17.8%. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) did not alter significantly in either group, but the HDL-C/TC ratio increased in all cases. In normal subjects the mean increase was 17.8%, whereas in hyperlipemic patients it was 21.7%. Six wk after discontinuation of DPFM the serum lipids had returned to their baseline values in 85% of subjects. The palatability of DPFM was confirmed in all cases.