Plasma phospholipid fatty acid profile confirms compliance to a novel saturated fat-reduced, monounsaturated fat-enriched dairy product intervention in adults at moderate cardiovascular risk: a randomized controlled trial

• Main Authors: Oonagh Markey, Dafni Vasilopoulou, Kirsty E. Kliem, Albert Koulman, Colette C. Fagan, Keith Summerhill, Laura Y. Wang, Alistair S. Grandison, David J. Humphries, Susan Todd, Kim G. Jackson, David I. Givens, Julie A. Lovegrove
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-05-01
• Series: Nutrition Journal
• Subjects: Cardiovascular disease; Dairy products; Dietary fat composition; Food-exchange model; Fatty acids; Monounsaturated fatty acids
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12937-017-0249-2

Abstract Background Dairy products are a major contributor to dietary SFA. Partial replacement of milk SFA with unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) is possible through oleic-acid rich supplementation of the dairy cow diet. To assess adherence to the intervention of SFA-reduced, MUFA-enriched dairy product consumption in the RESET (REplacement of SaturatEd fat in dairy on Total cholesterol) study using 4-d weighed dietary records, in addition to plasma phospholipid FA (PL-FA) status. Methods In a randomised, controlled, crossover design, free-living UK participants identified as moderate risk for CVD (n = 54) were required to replace habitually consumed dairy foods (milk, cheese and butter), with study products with a FA profile typical of retail products (control) or SFA-reduced, MUFA-enriched profile (modified), for two 12-week periods, separated by an 8-week washout period. A flexible food-exchange model was used to implement each isoenergetic high-fat, high-dairy diet (38% of total energy intake (%TE) total fat): control (dietary target: 19%TE SFA; 11%TE MUFA) and modified (16%TE SFA; 14%TE MUFA). Results Following the modified diet, there was a smaller increase in SFA (17.2%TE vs. 19.1%TE; p < 0.001) and greater increase in MUFA intake (15.4%TE vs. 11.8%TE; p < 0.0001) when compared with the control. PL-FA analysis revealed lower total SFAs (p = 0.006), higher total cis-MUFAs and trans-MUFAs (both p < 0.0001) following the modified diet. Conclusion The food-exchange model was successfully used to achieve RESET dietary targets by partial replacement of SFAs with MUFAs in dairy products, a finding reflected in the PL-FA profile and indicative of objective dietary compliance. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02089035 , date 05-01-2014.