Proof of Myristic Acid Being Bad?

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Reduction of dietary saturated fatty acids correlates with increased

plasma lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity in humans.

Berard AM, Dabadie H, Palos-Pinto A, Dumon MF, Darmon M.

Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moleculaire, Universite

Victor Segalen Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. annie.berard@...

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;58(6):881-7.

OBJECTIVE: Increased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations have been

associated with lower coronary heart disease risk. On the other hand,

dietary fats are known to influence the fatty acid profile of plasma

lipids, including phospholipids that are substrates of lecithin

cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), an important enzyme in HDL

metabolism. The purpose of this study was to examine the association

between the saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake and LCAT activity.

DESIGN: An interventional study was performed in a monk community of

25 men. SETTING: A French monk community, South West of France.

SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS: The basal diet of the study cohort

contained SFA in a proportion of 13.5% of their total energy intake

(TEI). They were submitted to two experimental isocaloric diets

containing either 8.4% of the TEI in SFA (diet A) or 11% (diet ,

each lasting 5 weeks. RESULTS: The elevation of SFA in diet B was

mainly obtained by decreasing carbohydrates. The only significant

difference among total fats between diets A and B was the myristic

acid content (0.6 and 1.2% of TEI, respectively). The elevation in

SFA in diet B resulted in a significant increase of HDL-C (P<0.04),

while plasma apo A-I concentration and LCAT activity both decreased

(P<0.02). CONCLUSION: Altogether, these results are consistent with a

negative effect of SFA on reverse cholesterol transport.