Effect of Dietary Fat and Cholesterol on Plasma Lipids and Lipoprotein Fractions in Normolipidemic Men

In a controlled feeding situation, male subjects were assigned to one of four treatment groups: low fat (31% of total kcal)/low cholesterol (193 mg/d) (LFLC), low fat/usual cholesterol (504 mg/d) (LFUC), usual fat (46% of total kcal)/low cholesterol (UFLC) and usual fat/usual cholesterol (UFUC) intake. For the first 2 wk of the 10-wk study all subjects consumed the UFUC diet. Subjects consumed experimental diets during wk 3–7 and resumed their customary intake during wk 8–10. Plasma total, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL), low-density-lipoprotein and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were determined weekly. A significant effect (P < 0.05) of dietary fat on plasma total and HDL cholesterol was observed between the end of wk 2 and 7. Low fat intake resulted in 17 ± 2 mg/dL lower total cholesterol and 10 ± 1 mg/dL lower HDL cholesterol than the usual fat intake. Plasma lipids were not affected either by dietary cholesterol or by any interaction of dietary fat with cholesterol.