Lipid-lowering effects of a modified butter-fat: a controlled intervention trial in healthy men

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jan;56(1):64-71. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601282.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the lipid-lowering potential of a butter-fat modified through manipulations in bovine feeding to increase the unsaturated:saturated fatty acid ratio.

Design: Double-blind, randomised, cross-over intervention trial.

Setting: University of Auckland Human Nutrition Unit, New Zealand.

Subjects: Twenty healthy, male subjects.

Intervention: A residential trial in which all foods and beverages were provided during two intervention periods, comprising 3 weeks of high unsaturated 'modified' vs. 3 weeks of saturated 'control' butter feeding separated by a 4 week washout. Diets were of typical composition of 39 percentage energy (en%) fat (20 en% butter-fat), 48 en% CHO, 13 en% protein.

Results: There was a significant decrease in both total (P<0.05, -7.9%) and LDL-cholesterol (P<0.01, -9.5%) during modified butter feeding. There was no significant effect of treatment on a range of other risk factors including HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, apolipoprotein A or B, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), haemostatic clotting factor VII and fibrinogen or glucose (P>0.05). Subjects were maintained in energy balance and there was no significant change in body weight during intervention. Butter-fat composition alone differed between treatments.

Conclusions: A significant improvement in cardiovascular risk can be achieved by moderate changes in dietary fatty acid profile, achieved through a common and well accepted food source, butter-fat.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Apolipoproteins / blood
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Butter / analysis*
  • Cholesterol / blood*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood*
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Factor VII / analysis
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / blood
  • Fibrinogen / analysis
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Reference Values
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins
  • Blood Glucose
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
  • Insulin
  • Triglycerides
  • Butter
  • Factor VII
  • Fibrinogen
  • Cholesterol