Long-term effects of a Paleolithic diet on plasma fatty acid composition in postmenopausal women with obesity : a randomized trial

• Background: A Paleolithic-type diet (PD) can improve cardiometabolic risk factors, but its impact on plasma fatty acid (FA) composition is unknown. We hypothesized that a PD improves dietary fat quality and FA metabolism, which may help counteract obesity-related metabolic dysfunction. Objective: The current study investigated the impact of a PD on biomarkers of dietary fat quality and indices of FA desaturation and de novo lipogenesis compared with a prudent control diet (CD).Design: This randomized 2-year trial included 70 women (mean ± SD age 60 ± 5.6 years, BMI 33 ± 3.4). The PD was rich in fish and vegetable fats but devoid of dairy products and lower in carbohydrates than the CD advised to follow the Nordic Nutrition recommendations. FA composition of plasma cholesterol esters (CE) was assessed using gas chromatography, desaturase activities estimated by product-to-precursor FA ratios, and dietary intake measured by 4-day food records at baseline and after 6 and 24 months.Results: Saturated fat (P=0.009) and carbohydrate (P<0.001) intake was lower, whereas polyunsaturated (PUFA), monounsaturated FA, and protein intake were higher at 24 after PD versus CD (all P<0.001). Changes in plasma FA composition during PD compared to CD suggested that saturated FAs from dairy foods were partly replaced with PUFAs from fish and vegetable sources. Although comparable BMI, energy intake, and physical activity were found at 24 months with both diets, metabolic markers and desaturase activity indices, including 16:0 (P=0.005), 16:1n-7 (P=0.002), 20:3n-6 (P=0.004), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) (P=0.006), lipogenic index (P<0.001), and the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (P=0.031), were lower after 24 months of PD versus CD.Conclusions: The PD had long-term effects on dietary fat quality intake and plasma FA composition, changes previously linked to improved cardiometabolic health. The results may suggest an anti-lipogenic effect of PD, possibly contributing to improved dyslipidemia.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Paleolithic diet

postmenopausal women

circulating fatty acids

desaturase activities

validation of diet intake

medicin

Medicine

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)