Saturated FA, cisMUFA, n-6 HUFA, and exogenous FAs greatly differed in their response to the LFD and MFD. Parallel responses were observed in RCs, PLs, and CEs. A model with a combination of FAs almost perfectly differentiated the consumption of 34% fat from that of 17% fat.

Dietary fiber lowers atherogenic serum lipids and blood pressure and improves glucose metabolism. We compared in 24 mildly hypercholesterolemic men the effects of adding 11.8 g dietary fiber/d from each of three cereal brans (wheat, rice, and oat) to a low-fiber diet for 4 wk each. A double-blind, crossover design incorporated brans into bread and muffins. Plasma total- and low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations were significantly lowered only by oat bran. Compared with wheat bran, the ratios of plasma high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol to total cholesterol and of apolipoprotein A-I to B were significantly increased with oat bran (both by 4.7%, P less than 0.05), and rice bran (2.3%, P less than 0.05, and 3.9%, P less than 0.05, respectively). Blood pressure, blood glucose, and serum insulin responses to a common test meal were unaltered. Oat and rice bran exert a small but potentially useful effect on plasma lipoprotein risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To determine the diet quality of a group of young adults and explore its associations with two food-related behaviours (involvement in meal preparation and consumption of commercially prepared meals). Design: Cross-sectional study of young adults. Sample characteristics, food-related behaviours and dietary intake were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire including an FFQ. Diet quality was measured using the fifteen-item Dietary Guideline Index (DGI) designed to assess adherence to Australian dietary guidelines. One-way ANOVA, t tests and multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the relationships between DGI scores, sample characteristics and food-related behaviours. Setting: University students enrolled in an undergraduate nutrition class, Melbourne, Australia. Subjects: Students (n 309) aged 18-36 years. Results: The DGI score was normally distributed, with a mean score of 93?4 (SD 17?1) points (range 51?9-127?4 points), out of a possible score of 150 points. In multivariate analyses adjusted for age, sex, nationality, BMI and maternal education, cooking meals for oneself was positively associated with DGI score (b 5 0?15; 95 % CI 1?15, 10?03; P 5 0?01); frequency of takeaway and frequency of convenience meal consumption were inversely associated with DGI score (b 5 20?21; 95 % CI 29?96, 22?32; P 5 0?002 and b 5 20?16; 95 % CI 27?40, 20?97; P , 0?01, respectively). Conclusions: Cooking meals for oneself was linked to higher diet quality among young adults, while consumption of commercially prepared meals was associated with poorer diet quality. Maintaining education programmes that promote cooking skills within young adults has the potential to improve DGI scores.

We compared the cardiovascular risk-reduction potential of three major polyunsaturated fatty acids in a double-blind study. Thirty-three normotensive and mildly hypercholesterolemic men were randomly allocated to one of three diets supplemented with linoleic acid (14.3 g/d), alpha-linolenic acid (9.2 g/d), or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (3.4 g/d). Diets were matched to provide similar amounts of the major classes of fatty acids and cholesterol. Blood pressure and plasma lipids were measured for 6 wk after a 3-wk run-in period on the linoleic acid supplement. For the diet supplemented with EPA plus DHA compared with the linoleic acid diet systolic blood pressure fell 5.1 mm Hg (p = 0.01); plasma triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol fell by 39% (p = 0.001) and 49% (p = 0.01), respectively; and LDL cholesterol rose by 9% (p = 0.01). There were no significant changes with the diet supplemented with alpha-linolenic acid. The net effect on cardiovascular risk therefore is complex and the systolic blood pressure reduction was substantial.