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To determine the effects of dietary fat saturation on plasma lipoproteins, we studied 21 free-living normolipidemic women (13 pre- and 8 postmenopausal) on three consecutive diet periods. During the first 4 wk they consumed a saturated diet rich in palm oil and butter [19% saturated fatty acids (S), 14% monounsaturated fatty acids (M), and 3.5% polyunsaturated fatty acids (P)], followed by 6 wk of a monounsaturated diet rich in olive oil (11% S, 22% M, and 3.6% P), and 6 wk of a polyunsaturated diet rich in sunflower oil (10.7% S, 12.5% M, and 12.8% P). Compared with the diet rich in saturated fatty acids, both diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids had similar lowering effects on total and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I were higher in the monounsaturated-rich period than in the polyunsaturated-rich (10.5% and 12.7% respectively, P less than 0.001) and the saturated-rich period (5.3%, and 7.9%, respectively, P less than 0.05). These effects were independent of menopause status. Our data show that at this level of fat intake (36% as calories), a monounsaturated-rich diet results in a less atherogenic lipid profile than either polyunsaturated- or saturated-rich diets.

The effect of dietary-fat saturation on plasma lipoprotein concentrations was assessed in 46 men and 32 women placed on a diet enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids (sunflower oil) for 12 wk and, under isocaloric conditions, on a diet enriched in monounsaturated fatty acids (olive oil) for the next 16 wk in men and 28 wk in women. Fat comprised 37% of the total energy intake in men and 36% in women. At the end of the monounsaturated fatty acid diet no change occurred in total cholesterol (TC) in men but it increased by 9% in women. High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased by 17% in men and by 30% in women. The atherogenic index (TC:HDL cholesterol) fell significantly in both sexes. No significant changes occurred in plasma low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol or in total triglycerides values. These data show that when compared with polyunsaturates, monounsaturates increased HDL cholesterol and reduced the atherogenic risk profile in both sexes.