Dietary manipulation of serum triglycerides.

A group of children who had been treated for protein-energy malnutrition with a high-energy, high-faty diet, presented very low levels of fasting serum triglycerides (50.8 +/- 5.9 mg/dl). When the diet was changed to a high-energy, low-fat formula, these levels increased rapidly to normal values (104.9 +/- 19.2 mg/dl). Reversing the dietary change produced the opposite effect within 2 days. This effect was also studied in 14 normal adults, who received a high-fat diet ad libitum during 5 days. Meals were prepared from common foodstuffs with a high fat content. The hypotriglyceridemic effect occurred in all volunteers. A close relationship was observed between the initial triglyceride concentration and the decrement produced by the high-fat diet (r = 0.97), which did not affect serum cholesterol levels. No consistent response of serum free-fatty acids was detected, while serum proteins remained within normal values. Despite the rather high energy intake, most subjects lost weight during the experimental period. The level of fasting serum triglycerides of the adult volunteers was negatively correlated to the fat content of their self-selected diets. These results are discussed in relation to current ideas about fat requirements.