HDLs Mediterranean diet

Clinical trials involving mixed nuts have been conducted in six countries Australia, Canada, Israel, India, New Zealand, and the United States [61-67]. In the studies that reported blood lipid values, the nut diets significantly reduced total cholesterol from 7% to 25% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 10%-33%. No studies found any significant effect on HDL cholesterol, and two found a significant decrease in triacylglycerols (TAG) [63,66]. Furthermore, both the Lyon Heart Study and the Indo-Mediterranean Diet Study showed a decrease in overall mortality and cardiovascular mortality [45,46]. 

Research shows that higher levels of HDL cholesterol, commonly referred to as "good" cholesterol, may play a role in the preservation of memory. Many of the key components of the Mediterranean diet, including replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat, eating plenty of soluble fiber found in legumes and cereal, and moderate alcohol consumption, may also help support healthy HDL levels. 

Although diets rich in n-3 PUFA from fatty fish markedly reduce the blood triglyceride level of people with high blood triglycerides, they do not affect people with normal levels of blood triglycerides. However, unlike the n-6 PUFA, the effect of n-3 PUFA on blood cholesterol and HDL cholesterol is inconsistent. There is also a wide gap between these dietary recommendations and the typical diets in North American and European countries (Table 13.16). These recommendations are consistent with the so called Mediterranean diet that includes oUve oil (containing up to 80% oleic acid) as the principal... 

Monounsaturated fats Triacylglycerols containing primarily fatty acids with one double bond are referred to as monounsaturated fat. Unsaturated fatty acids are generally derived from vegetables and fish. When substituted for saturated fatty acids in the diet, monounsaturated fats lower both total plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but increase HDLs. This ability of monounsaturated fats to favorably modify lipoprotein levels may explain, in part, the observation that Mediterranean cultures, with diets rich in olive oil (high in monounsaturated oleic acid), show a low incidence of coronary heart disease. 

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