1.
A high-carbohydrate diet effects on the A allele of hepatic lipase polymorphism on the apoB100/apoAI ratio in young Chinese males.
Hu, M, Li, Z, Fang, DZ
Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University. 2012;(6):751-7
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diet induces changes in plasma lipid profiles, and the plasma lipid profiles vary among different genetic backgrounds. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate how a high-carbohydrate (high-CHO) diet interacts with hepatic lipase G-250A promoter polymorphism to affect the ratios of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins (apo) in a young Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS Experiments were conducted on 56 university students. A stabilization diet was given for 7 days and a high-CHO diet was followed for 6 days. The diets used in this study were described by Song et al. and the following parameters were evaluated: total plasma triglyceride (TG), total plasma cholesterol (TC), plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apoB100 and apoAI. The plasma lipids and apoB100/apoAI ratios were also calculated and hepatic lipase G-250A polymorphism was analyzed. RESULTS At baseline, no significant difference was detected for subjects with different genotypes and genders. All the parameters showed significant differences before and after the high-CHO diet, and these differences are gender-specific: after the high-CHO diet, the TG/HDL-C ratios significantly increased in females (GG genotype: P = 0.004; A carriers: P = 0.005). The TC/HDL-C ratios significantly decreased in GG genotype males (P = 0.007), A carrier males (P < 0.0001) and A carrier females (P = 0.016) and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratios significantly decreased in the GG genotype males (P = 0.011), A carrier males (P < 0.0001) and A carrier females (P = 0.001). However, comparing the apoB100/apoAI ratio before and after the high-CHO diet, a significant difference only existed in male A carriers (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS The results of this study show that the high-CHO diet induces the positive effects on the lipid ratios in general, only except the TG/HDL-C ratio in females. Noticeably, the decreased apoB100/apoAI ratio is associated with the A allele of hepatic lipase G-250A polymorphism only in young Chinese males.
2.
Pistachio nuts reduce triglycerides and body weight by comparison to refined carbohydrate snack in obese subjects on a 12-week weight loss program.
Li, Z, Song, R, Nguyen, C, Zerlin, A, Karp, H, Naowamondhol, K, Thames, G, Gao, K, Li, L, Tseng, CH, et al
Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2010;(3):198-203
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is a widely held view that, due to high fat content, snacking on nuts will lead to weight gain, ultimately causing unhealthy changes in lipid profiles. This study is designed to study the effects of pistachio snack consumption on body weight and lipid levels in obese participants under real-world conditions. METHODS Participants were randomly assigned to consume 1 of 2 isocaloric weight reduction diets for 12 weeks, with each providing 500 cal per day less than resting metabolic rate. Each diet included an afternoon snack of either 53 g (240 cal) of salted pistachios (n = 31) or 56 g of salted pretzels (220 cal; n = 28). RESULTS Both groups lost weight during the 12-week study (time trend, p < 0.001), but there were significant differences in the changes in body mass index between the pretzel and pistachio groups (pistachio, 30.1 ± 0.4 to 28.8 ± 0.4 vs. pretzel, 30.9 ± 0.4 to 30.3 ± 0.5). At 6 and 12 weeks, triglycerides were significantly lower in the pistachio group compared with the pretzel group (88.04 ± 9.80 mg/dL vs. 144.56 ± 18.86 mg/dL, p = 0.01 at 6 weeks and 88.10 ± 6.78 mg/dL vs. 132.15 ± 16.76 mg/dL, p = 0.02 at 12 weeks), and there was a time trend difference between the 2 groups over the 12 weeks (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, or glucose between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Pistachios can be consumed as a portion-controlled snack for individuals restricting calories to lose weight without concern that pistachios will cause weight gain. By comparison to refined carbohydrate snacks such as pretzels, pistachios may have beneficial effects on triglycerides as well.