Comparison

on plasma
Margo

of effects
of lauric acid
lipids and lipoproteins13

A Denke

and

ABSTRACT
lipids

Scott

lipoproteins

of laurie

acid (C 16:0) and oleic acid

14 men by using liquid-formula
order.

Lauric

acid

palmitic
acid
rich sunflower

was

acid

compared

were

(C12:0)

with

on

the effects

(C 18: 1 ) in a metabolic-diet
diets fed for 3 wk each

supplied

in a synthetic

plasma

cholesterol-raising

to compare
the effects oflauric
acid
lipid and lipoprotein
concentrations,

oil,

and
hut

total

concentrations

LDL

cholesterol

as much

(4.94

0.75

palm

concentrations

as potent

cholesterol

J (Yin Nuir

.ln
Laurie

acid,

were
acid

noted
raises

with

oleic

concentrations

1992;56:895-8.

cholesterol-raising

fatty

Saturated
fatty acids
plasma
concentrations
(1).

acid,

an

lesterol

I 8-carbon

and

concentrations

fatty

acid

(Cl 8:0)

(4-8).

hand,

effects

medium-chain
seemingly
have
3). Likewise,

(2,

does

not

In contrast,

that palmitic
acid (C16:0)
and
serum
cholesterol
concentrations

the other

constituents
that raise
and LDL cholesterol
fatty acids share this

For example,
length
8-10,

cholesterol

concentrations
mon saturated
laurie
other

property.
of carbon

concentrations

dicates
crease
On

are major
dietary
of total cholesterol
not all saturated

However,

cholesterol-raising
rated
fatty acids
on serum

of laurie

raise

acid

(C12:0)

oil

also

are

rich

these

fats.
and

Laurie
therefore

concentrations.
However,
to laurie
and
;llfl

could

would

Fourteen
on the

behave

like

not be expected

in-

(C14:0)
in(4, 5, 8, 9).

on cholesterol

in myristic

com45%

acid, whereas
coconut
oil

acid

(1 7%)

to increase

and

the role
action

a medium-chain

acid

.\ii!r

et al (4) assigned

of
of

fatty
cholesterol

equal

to that

et al (5)
1992:56:895-8.

reported

a cholesterol-raising

of palmitic
that
Printed

acid
laurie

in USA.

and

acid
(C

has
I992

potential

Upon

kg/m2)

averaged

testinal

tract,

aged

44-7

ward

ofthe

and

was designed

and palmitic
acid on plasma
both relative
to oleic acid,
potential.

admission,
25.5

acid,

only

a mild
Society

1 y (63

their
2.5.

kidneys,

Affairs

mean

(SE)

None

had

or endocrine

decompensation.
disease
and

and

throughout

nitroglycerin

5, 1 SD)

Veterans

of cardiovascular
of coronary
heart

body

index

ofthe

study

or a recent

without

history

any

a history
blockers
change

taking
/-adrenergic
blocking
agents.
and continued
to smoke
during
the

The research
protocol
Board
and informed

was approved
consent
was

(in

gastroin-

Five patients
had
took calcium
channel
the

studied
Center,

mass

diseases

system,

were

Medical

in

Seven
inves-

by the Institutional
obtained
from each

subject.
Diet.c
This

study

was an inpatient,

ing

a liquid-formula

fat,

40%

based

diet.

metabolic-ward
The

as carbohydrates

protein.

mended

diet

A multivitamin

dietary

allowance

providing
(RDA;

intake

From

Medicine,

was

the Center

for Human

Biochemistry,

and

100%

20%

as

as soy-

of the

recom-

vitamins

was

all the daily energy.

During
to walk around
the hospital
form of strenuous
physical

adjusted

so that

Nutrition,

Clinical

us-

of energy

and

10) for essential

activity.

energy

40%

glucose),

diet provided
were allowed
engage
in any

The

investigation

supplied

(primarily

also given.
The liquid
the study,
the subjects
grounds,
but did not

each

Departments

Nutrition,

subject

of Internal

University

of

Texas

Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas, and the Veterans
Affairs Medical
Center, Dallas.
2 Supported
in part by the Southwestern
Medical Foundation
and the
Moss Heart Foundation,
Dallas, and by grants from the Veterans Affairs
and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute(HL29252).
MA Denke
3

myristic

American

men

metabolic

Dallas.

is the

Keys

l-legsted
J (liii

acid

cho-

fourth
most
oil contains

acid and palm-kernel

oil contains
47% laurie
oils contain
only minimal
amounts.
Because
palm-kernel

stearic

evidence

myristic
acid
in humans

are unclear.
Laurie
acid is the
fatty acid in the diet. Coconut

satulittle

plasma

strong

palmitic
acid (8%), it has been difficult
to determine
laurie
acid in contributing
to the cholesterol-raising
acid

ofpalmitic

study

Subjects

tigation.
Review

effect

that

present

cholesterol-raising

dosage.
None
were
men were smokers

acid

Introduction

humans

no serum

The

Methods

mmol/

oil (5. 17 0.65

compared

increasing

for

acid.

KEY WORDS

as did

respectively).
No differences
or HDL
cholesterol.
Laurie

cholesterol

is not

as is palmitic

in

has

acids.

recipient
Reprints

ofan
not

Received

March

Accepted

for

for Clinical

NIH-NHLBI

Clinical

Investigator

Award.

available.

6, 1992.

publication

Nutrition

May

19,

l992.

895

Downloaded from www.ajcn.org by on February 26, 2007

of plasma

and 3.93 0.5 1 mmol/L,

in plasma
triglycerides
acid,

which

of myristic

one-third

study of
in random

high-laurie

that

ie, only

one-fourth

L [I SE]) and LDL cholesterol

(3.70 0.57 mmol/L)
when
compared
with high-oleic
sunflower
oil (4.44 0.54 and 3.31
0.44 mmol/L,
respectively),
but did not raise total and LDL

total

action,

of palmitic

was provided
by palm
oil and oleic acid in oleicseed oil. The high-laurie
oil resulted
in higher

concentrations

cholesterol

acid

M Grundv

The effects

and

and palmitic

896

DENKE

TABLE
I
Fatty acid composition
Fatty

acid

of the three

AND

diets5

High oleic

High

laurie

High

0.1
0.1
4.7
2.2
75.8
15.6

palmitic

SD; n = 3

maintained

0.40

0.3

0.1

0.05

1.0 0.05

0.05

2.5

2.2

0.05

4.3

0.50
0.05

40.1
9.9

0.05
0.15

44.4

0.05

0.05

6.2

of methanol:benzene
were

then

the fatty

200

acid

(4: 1 , by vol)

tranesterified
L

by heating

acetyl

composition

chloride

0.05

43.4

illary

0.50

had

0.05
0.10

samples

been

was determined

added.

by gas-liquid
with a flameCA) and cap-

column.

Statistical

0.05

solution.

the

To

analysis

compare

the

analysis

of variance

verified

by the

three

dietary

was

periods,

carried

out

Wilcox-Shapiro

a repeated-measures

after

normality

normality

test

of data

was

(1 7). When

the

analysis
of variance
indicated
that the results
of the diets were
different,
paired
I tests, with Bonferroni
correction
for multiple
measurements,
were used. When
results
are stated
to be statis-

weight

throughout

subject

varied

for each

acids

fatty

Finally,

measurements.

a constant

requirements
per

43.9

volumes

The

chromatography
(model
5880 gas chromatograph
ionization
detector;
Hewlett-Packard,
Palo Alto,

0.05

0.05

in 2-mL

at 100 #{176}C
for 1 h, after

%
C12:0
C14:0
C16:0
C18:0
C18:l
C18:2

GRUNDY

the study.

The

energy

within

833

ki (200

keal)

periods,

each

lasting

3 wk.

tically
significant,
the
3, or 0.01 7. All t tests

p value for that

were two-tailed.

comparison

was

0.05/

<

period.
There

were

three

diets

fat used.

three

different

dietary

period
was separated
by
went home
and resumed
were

fed

In one

in random

period

fat. In another
sole fat. And

fat made by base

oil and trilaurin

catalyzed
(Proctor

Ronald

Jandacek)

sitions

ofeach

and

was

fat were

are detailed

Lipid
Blood

was

metabolic

have

shown

used

that

differed

high-oleic

period
finally,

as the

determined

only

ofhigh-oleic
Cincinnati;
fat.

Fatty

by gas-liquid

from
and

state

each

after

a new

sample

acid

fast

chromatography

on days

inpatient,

steady

heparin

the

time

was analyzed

(HDL)

poprotein
precipitation

with

of blood

regard

assay

2 1 of
studies

to plasma

sampling.

for total
according

cholesterol

The

cholesterol,

lipid
the diet
were in
plasma

triglycerides,

to procedures

was measured
containing

To measure

the HDL

ofthe

Lipid

from

enzymatically
apolipoprotein

the

after
B with

low-density-lipoprotein

cholesterol

was substrated

The
at the
Lepage

fatty

value

determined

the cholesterol

content

pattern

in plasma

triglycerides

silica-gel
ether:aeetie
triglyceride

were

separated

by thin-layer

G plates
(25O-Mm
thick)
acid (80: 19: 1, by vol)
band

in the
were

the

high-laurie

high-palmitic

and

lipoprotein

periods

are

of total

cholesterol

period.

significantly

lower

acid

eantly
different
LDL-eholesterol

oflipids
dietary

concentrations

period

Total

in the

they

from
those
concentrations

were

in

were

concentraperiod,

intermediate

and

and

in each of the other

paralleled
changes

in the high-oleic
to raise total-

concenpresented

cholesterol

high-oleic

highest
LDL-eholesterol
period,
intermediate

two periods.
in total cho-

concentrations
in the high-laurie

period.
Overall,
and LDL-cholesterol

in

signifi-

found
pe-

the high-laurie
concentra-

tions about
two-thirds
as much
as did high-palmitic
feeding.
The fatty composition
ofplasma
triglycerides
during
each period is presented
in Table
3. Total
saturated
fatty acids (C: 12:0
+ C:l4:0
+ C16:0 + Cl8:0)
were highest
during
the high-palmitie
period,
during

intermediate
the high-oleic

caused

a small

of plasma

during
period

but

the

(P

definite

(P

triglycerides

was

scraped

into

high-laurie
0.001).

increase

in the

0.001),

<

period,
and
The high-laurie

<

and

laurie

although

acid

lowest
diet
content

triglycerides

ofthe

and lipoprotein

Total cholesterol
Triglycerides
VLDLcholesterol
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol

infrana-

to the method
were extracted
chromatography

tubes

Lipid

concentrations

and

resuspended

on the three

oleic

High

diets5

laurie

High

palmitic

mmo//L

by a separate

of
and
on

with
use of hexane:diethyl
as the solvent
system.
The
glass

TABLE

High

was determined

end of each dietary

period,
according
and Roy (16). Fasting
plasma
lipids

triglycerides

found
tions

highest

three

(d

acid anal.vsis
acid

2. The

of the

(LDL)

(VLDL)
cholesterol
plasma
by ultracentrifu-

tant.

fatty

Table

concentrations

each

(13), except
that cholesterol
and triglycwere measured
by enzymatic
assay, which
to yield LRC values
(14, 1 5). High-density
li-

manganese.

Plasma

serum
on

(LRC)

of lipoproteins

and

Mean
trations

lesterol,
with the
in the high-palmitic

16 through

metabolic-ward

state

cholesterol,
very-low-density-lipoprotein
< I .006
kg/L)
was removed
from
gation,

compo-

Results

riod, and lowest

feeding
appeared

a 14-h

cholesterol,

Research
Clinic
eride measurements
has been shown

palm oil
diet, a

1.

Previous

during

lipoprotein

oil was

sunflower
courtesy
of

concentrations
is reached
within
2 wk after changing
(9, 1 1, 12); therefore,
it was assumed
that the patients
a steady

in the

sunflower

(high-palmitic),
for the high-laurie

sole

time
The

analyses

drawn
diet.

and

rearrangement
and Gamble,

in Table

and lipoprotein

the

order,

(high-oleic),

used as the sole

was used as the

1 wk during
which
their usual activities.

4.94

0.75t

5.17

0.65

1.06

0.19

1.06

0.19

0.31

0.15

0.31 0.13

3.70

0.57t

3.93

0.5 1

0.96

0.21

0.90

0.21

SE.

t Significantly
with Bonferroni
Significantly
Bonferroni

different
from high palmitic,
correction).
different
from high laurie, P

P
<

<

0.0167

0.0167

(P

<

0.05

(P

<

0.05

with

(P

<

0.05

with

correction).

Significantly
Bonferroni

4.44 0.54tt
1.05 0.20
0.290.10
3.3 1 0.44tj
0.83 0.18

different

correction).

from

high oleic,

< 0.0167

Downloaded from www.ajcn.org by on February 26, 2007

Each dietary
the subjects

LIPID
TABLE
Plasma

3
triglyceride

Fatty

acid

on the three

High oleic

C12:0
C14:0
CI6:0
C18:0
Total saturates
Cl6:l
Cl8:l
C18:2
Total unsaturates

0.1
1.0
21.7
3.6
26.4
3.0
54.7
16.20.7
73.9

diets5

LAURIC

ACID

High laurie

0.1
0.0
1.1
0.3

3.4
1.9
23.2
3.9

1.1

32.4

High

Let

palmitic

0.8t

0.3

37.9

0.6f

2.4

0.3

t Significantly
0.0 167.
j: Significantly

is the

potentiate
lesterol

3.1 0.3

44.7 0.5

of allowing

14.60.7

15.3 0.7

the synthesis

67.9

62.4

hepatie

from

both

high oleic and high palmitic,

different

from

high oleic,

<

site ofaction

fatty

and Cl6:O
0.005),
the

<

appeared
increments

to increase
somewhat
were relatively
small.

in this

period

anee

production
acid.

of laurie

investigations
have not given a clear indication
of
acid affects plasma
cholesterol
concentrations.
(4, 5).
study was conducted
to compare
the relative
actions
acid,

trations

palmitie

of total

testing
oils
that relative

enriched
to oleic

concentrations
LDL-cholesterol
two-thirds
must

that

has

the

that

C12:

acid

and

laurie

fatty

does

acid

acid.

acids

1 fatty

acid

exerts

Thus,

(C8:0

laurie

and

(2, 3). Laurie

acid
properties
of colaurie

acid,

a saturated

fatty

saturated

acid,

shortly
acid,

after

concentration
( 1 9). Laurie
substrate
for the
desaturase
in plasma

its status

its cholesterol-raising

fatty

as a saturated

property

as a result.

ask

ways:
to how

metabolism

1) effects
the

fatty

or via chylomierons),

specific
acid

ofeholesterol
to the fatty
was

presented

or 3) effects

and
acid

alone,

to the
specific

lipoproteins
liver

2) effects
(via

route

The

acid,

potency

cholesterol

also

extent

depend

of Mensink

serum

of its shorter

chain

lipoprotein

in fatty

depend

length

to triglyceride
acid and thus

and/or

difference

clear-

on the rigidity

fatty acids,
which
LDL-cholesterol

cholesterol

the

do un-

both

is the report

because

whether

stimulate

than

for affecting
may

on hepatic

triglycerides

(27,
acid

by this

LDL-cholesterol
whereas
laurie

28),

on how

fatty

acid

effects

the saturated

Could

the

relative

is it possible

acid

that

the

the

acids

in VLDL

content
provide

of VLDLs
yet another

difference

acid in
(20),

trations.
(29-31),

Support
which

acids.

lomicron

triglycerides

that
LDL-cho-

acid

than

did

palm-oil
was
fatty

then this would

in LDL concenstudies
of ehy-

chylomicrons

are

en-

presumably

could

be

The

true for VLDL

triglycerides.
Thus,
rates of hydrolysis
of VLDL
triglycerides
could
have been slowest
on the high-palmitic
diet,
intermediate
on the high-laurie
diet, and most rapid on the highdiet.

Further,

inhibit

specific

their

conversion

vein
of

ofVLDLs
diet,

the

direct

to LDL.

to LDLs

an intermediate

rate

hepatic
would

same

seen
acid

riched

could

The

ob-

palmitic

comes
from previous
intravascular
lipolysis
when

acids.

and

fatty acids
in saturated

metabolism,
for differences

is retarded
fatty

con-

near

fatty

oleic

in saturated

ehylomi-

composition
of VLDL
a lower
percentage
of

triglycerides

for this hypothesis

suggest
that the

with

between
acid

ofsaturated
difference

alters
VLDL
mechanism

ex-

raised

LDL-cholesterol

by laurie

and the lowest content

the high-oleic
diet. Ifthe

acid
be

acid

a value

in the result of the different

triglyceride
particles?
Laurie
acid feeding
produced

cho-

ofO.62
mmol/L,
by only 0.39

is absorbed

mmol/L,

imparted

raise

of laurie

palmitic

by an average
the concentration

by 0.43

concentrations

fatty

effects

study,

hypothesis,

rise

through

do not

concentrations

In this

of laurie

to this

absorbed

acids

LDL-cholesterol

70%

should

served.
Finally,

these

concentrations
acid increased

according

centrations

on

are 95%

and

mechanism?

If only

crons,

in three
portal

to the composition

to

cho-

to suppress

may

to a greater

concentrations

which

current
study did not examine
mechanisms
for the differences
in cholesterol
raising
oflauric
vs palmitic
acids, but it may provide some insight
into this question.
Fatty acids may effect the
intrahepatic

acid

monounsaturated
rigidity,
also raise

Medium-chain

plained

feeding,
during

is that

LDL

cholesterol

Palmitic

for this concept

less influence

palmitic

lesterol
as

by dietary

raises

trans

concentrations.

saturated

to oleic

observed

portal

stearic

concentrations

retains

26).

the

cholesterol
for stearic

is desaturated

was

(25,

mmol/L.

ClO:

on raising

fatty acids are presented

to the liver. Available
evidence
indicates
that 25-30%
of dietary
laurie
acid is absorbed
via the portal
route, whereas
< 5% ofpalmitic
acid is absorbed
by this pathway

and

therefore

acids

point,
may impart
less rigidity
molecules
than does palmitie

we can

lesterol

Still, the rise in

diet was about

long-chain

acid

it presumably

by

concentration
in our laboratory

cholesterol
stearie

concen-

in humans

the LDL-cholesterol
acid?
Previous
work

does not raise the cholesterol

contrast
is probably
a poor
no

and

fatty

oil.
is why

another

raising

Therefore,

plasma

like oleic acid and does not raise serum

(8, 1 8). The presumed
mechanism

its absorption,

and

diet,

cholesterol
concentrations
to the cholesterol-raising

acid,
not increase
as does palmitic

not

on

fatty acids.
The data
indicate
acid does not raise cholesterol

medium-chain

oil and palm-kernel

interesting
question

shown

acid

cholesterol

a cholesterol-raising

from

acid, behaves
concentrations
acid

these
laurie

on the high-palmitic

0) that do not raise

must then contribute

fatty
much

oleic
LDL

as much
as does palmitic
acid.
concentrations
on the high-laurie

differs

conut
An

and
and

with
acid,

be designated

acid

acid,

cholesterol

(23).

Support

on LDL-cholesterol
Previous
how laurie
The present

have

fatty acids appear

acid

oflipoproteins

lower melting
phospholipid

Next

Discussion

fatty

hepatocellular

Laurie

may have
metabolism.

acid

of hydrolysis
uptake
Ifso,
have

conversion

of VLDL

ofVLDL

the highest
occurred
with

remnants
fractional
with

the

the

high-laurie

triglycerides
and

favor

conversion
high-palmitie
diet,

and

Downloaded from www.ajcn.org by on February 26, 2007

C14:0

palmitie

activity

palmitic

receptors.

acids

concentrations.

(P

and

Saturated

oflipoproteins

saturated

and
and

affect

of cholesterol
and lipofatty acids suggest
that the

ofsaturated

Although

ofLDL

fatty

differently

in humans,
even when on a cholesterol-free
diet,
study (8, 9), it may do so by a similar
mechanism

synthesis

ofthe

acid

of LDL-receptor

and Katan
(24) that
have a saturated-like

0.0 167.

<

laurie

endogenous

and

might

metabolism
with dietary

concentrations.

(2 1 , 22).

concentrations
as used in this

0.7

liver

suppression

50.0 0.9t

different

whether

major

1.1

0.9t

ask

LDL cholesterol

0.0
0.6f
0.3t

compositions
metabolism).

actions
on
Investigations

0.3

1.2

(ie, different

us first

liver

0.4
1.0
32.1
4.4

897

lipoprotein

different
proteins.

WI

0.8t
0.3t
0.9t
0.3

acid

nonhepatic

SE.

OF

the fatty
fatty acid composition

% by

EFFECTS

898

DENKE

the least

conversion

with

the high-oleic

of VLDL

converted

centrations,

the

triglycerides
LDL-cholesterol

in the three diets

concentrations.

difference

In summary,
for raising
terol

to LDL should

laurie

acid

might

acid is not as potent

of total

The

precise

oils

(coconut

for

acid

replaces

palmitic

creasing

potential

slightly,

the benefit

would

be too

study

indicates

palmitic

acid.

tojustify

that

acid

laurie

acid

LDL

choles-

difference

oil)

the

less cholesterol

must

the expense
acid

and

should

as a cholesterol-raising

be

raising

reduced
probably

effort.

Finally,

this

be classified

along

with

saturated

fatty

determination

total

serum

cholesterol.

Clin

Chem

1974;20:

Z, West CE, et al. Determination

DR, Kruijswijk

triglycerides

by

an

accurate

method

enzymic

not affected

1965; 106:480-94.
20.

Brett

Cheryl

21.

acids desaturases
the conversion
of saturated
to monoenoic
Arch Biochem
Biophys
197 l;143:535-47.
Spady DK, Dietsehy IM. Interaction
of dietary cholesterol

of the

Veterans

Affairs

Medical

Center,

Dallas.

D, Howling

glycerides

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AW,

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GJP,

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Downloaded from www.ajcn.org by on February 26, 2007

We thank Kathy Schutt and Anh T Nguyen for their technical support
and assistance.
We also acknowledge
the assistance
provided
by the
Nursing
Service and Dietetic
Services,
specifically
Kathleen
Gray and
Davis,

of serum
by free

glycerol. Clin Chem 1985;31:1227-8.

16. Lepage
G, Roy C. Direct transesterification
ofall classes oflipids in
a one-step
reaction.
I Lipid Res 1986;27: I 14-20.
17. Winer BJ. Statistical
principles
in experimental
design. 2nd ed. New
York: McGraw
Hill International
Book Co, 1971.
18. Denke MA, Grundy
SM. Effects of fats high in stearic acid on lipid
and lipoprotein
levels in men with hypercholesterolemia.
Am I Clin
Nutr 199 1;54: 1036-40.
19. Elovson
I. Immediate
fate of albumin
bound
[U-4C]stearic
acid
following its intraportal
injection
into carbohydrate
refed rats. Early
course of desaturation
and esterification.
Biochim
Biophys
Acta

13

acid.

of

470-5.

15. Sullivan

cholesterol-in-

might

13. Lipid Research

Clinics Program
Manual of Laboratory
Operations.
Lipid and lipoprotein
analysis.
Washington,
DC: National
Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute,
1974. Vol 1. [DHEW
Publication
no.
(NIH) 75-628.]
1974.
14. Allain CC, Poon IS, Chan CS, Richmond
W, Fu PC. Enzymatic

is not

certainly

serum
fats

GRUNDY

is

oleic acid,
laurie
acid
fatty acid and laurie

formulated

ofone-third

small

and
this

in

fats. Little
would
be gained
ofdietary
fats in which
laurie

Although

of such

of VLDL

as palmitic

palm-kernel

be classified
as cholesterol-raising
by the synthesis
and manufacture

con-

to differences

cholesterol

reason

oil and

the fraction

composition

contribute

apparent.
Nonetheless,
compared
with
must be designated
as a cholesterol-raising
acid-rich

Because

affect LDL-cholesterol

in fatty

concentrations

in humans.

diet.

AND