Arefhosseini SR, Edwards CA,
Malkova D, Higgins S. Effect of Advice to
Increase Carbohydrate and Reduce Fat Intake on
Dietary Profile and Plasma Lipid Concentrations
in Healthy Postmenopausal Women. Ann Nutr
Metab 2009; 54: 138–144
Human Nutrition Section, Division of
Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow,
Glasgow, UK
Abstract
Background: The current
dietary guidelines advise an increase in
carbohydrate intake. However, there is concern
regarding the effect this may have on coronary
heart disease (CHD) risk, in particular in
postmenopausal women, in light of the knowledge
that raised triacylglycerol (TAG) may pose a
stronger risk for CHD in this group.
Aim: To evaluate the effect
of advice to increase carbohydrate intake to
50% of energy intake as part of advice to
follow current dietary guidelines on the
dietary profile, including dietary glycaemic
index (GI) and plasma lipids in healthy
postmenopausal women.
Methods: Twelve healthy
postmenopausal women (56 ± 6.5 years) took part
in the study. Habitual diet was assessed by a
7-day weighed intake. On the basis of the
results, subjects were advised to increase
their carbohydrate intake to comply with the
current dietary guidelines. Subjects were asked
to follow this diet for 4 weeks, in a
free-living situation. Fasting blood samples
were obtained at baseline and after 1 and 4
weeks.
Results: There was a
significant decrease in body mass index (BMI; p
< 0.05) after 4 weeks. There was a
significant increase in fasting TAG
concentrations after 1 week (p < 0.05), and
the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
concentration was significantly decreased (p
< 0.05) after 1 and 4 weeks. The subjects
significantly increased their percentage of
energy from carbohydrates and starch (p <
0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) after 1
week, and their percentage of energy from
starch after 4 weeks (p < 0.05). Dietary GI
was significantly increased (p < 0.05) after
1 and 4 weeks. Fruit and vegetable intake was
significantly increased after 1 week (p <
0.01), as was fruit intake alone (p < 0.05),
and there was a significant increase (p <
0.05) in the ‘antioxidant power’
as measured by the ferric reducing ability of
plasma assay.
Conclusion: In
postmenopausal women, following the UK dietary
guidelines resulted in changes in the lipid
profile that were more likely to favour an
increased risk of CHD, as TAG concentrations
were increased and HDL cholesterol
concentrations were reduced. However, in
addition, we found a significant reduction in
BMI and a significant increase in the
‘antioxidant power’ of plasma,
which should benefit health.
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