RELATIVE EFFECTS ON SERUM-LIPIDS AND APOLIPOPROTEINS OF CAPRENIN-RICH DIET COMPARED WITH DIETS RICH IN PALM OIL PALM-KERNEL OIL OR BUTTER

Two randomized, blind studies measured changes in serum cholesterol, other serum lipids, and apolipoprotein (ape) concentrations in hypercholesterolemic men consuming caprenin (Cap)-rich diets after either baseline diets enriched in palm oil/palm-kernel oil (PO/PKO) or butter. The triglyceride Cap contains 45% 22:0 and 50% 8:0-10:0. Compared with baseline values established at 3 wk on the PO/PKO diet, the 17 subjects on the Cap diet showed significant reductions after 6 wk in HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), HDL(2)-C, and HDL(3)-C and a significant increase in the ratio of total cholesterol to KDL-C. No significant changes in total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, ape B-100, or apo A-I were seen. Compared with baseline values established at 3 wk on the butter diet, after 6 wk the seven subjects receiving the Cap diet showed no significant changes in the lipid and apolipoprotein indexes analyzed. These data show that one or more of 8:0, 10:0, and 22:0 fatty acids can contribute to hypercholesterolemia in men.