Dietarytransα-linolenic acid from deodorised rapeseed oil and plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy men: theTransLinE Study

Abstract

Transisomers of α-linolenic acid, which are formed by deodorization of refined vegetable oils, can be found in significant amounts in edible oils. Effects oftransα-linolenic acid on plasma lipoproteins are unknown. We therefore investigated the effects oftransα-linolenic acid on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in healthy European men. Eighty-eight healthy men from three European countries (France, Scotland, UK and the Netherlands) first consumed for 6 weeks a diet with experimental oils ‘free’ oftransfatty acids (run-in period). For the next 6 weeks, they were randomly allocated to a diet with experimental oils ‘high’ or ‘low’ intransα-linolenic acid. Daily totaltransα-linolenic acid intake in the hightransgroup was 1410 (range 583–2642) mg. Experimental oils were provided as such, or incorporated into margarines, cheeses, muffins and biscuits. The hightransα-linolenic acid diet significantly increased the plasma LDL-:HDL-cholesterol ratio by 8.1 % (95 % CI 1.4, 15.3; P=0.02), and the total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio by 5.1 % (95 % CI 0.4, 9.9; P=0.03) compared with the low-transdiet. This was largely explained by an increase in LDL-cholesterol on the high-transdiet, while no change was observed in the low-transgroup (mean treatment effect of 4.7 % (95 % CI -0.8, 10.5; P=0.10). No effects were found on total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoprotein B and A-1, and lipoprotein(a) concentrations. In conclusion,transα-linolenic acid may increase plasma LDL-:HDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratios. Whether diet-induced changes in these ratios truly affects the risk for CHD remains to be established.