Dietary exchange of an olive oil and sunflower oil blend for extra virgin olive oil decreases the estimate cardiovascular risk and LDL and apolipoprotein AII concentrations in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Dietary supplementation with Virgin olive oil is considered cardioprotective. Decreasing LDL and apolipoprotein (apo) AII-lipoproteins is also appropriate for CHD protection and treatment.

AIM: To study the effects of an 8%En dietary exchange of linoleic acid for oleic acid on serum and lipoprotein levels and serum and LDL-TBARS in postmenopausal women consuming a diet rich in fat (46%En; saturated/monounsaturated/polyunsaturated profile: 1.1/1.9/1).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: 14 postmenopausal women (63 +/- 11 years) were assigned to exchange during 28-day dietary period the culinary oil used for years consisting in a blend of olive oil plus sunflower oil (SO) for extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). SO and EVOO represented 62% of the total lipid intake. DETERMINATIONS: Dietary intakes, serum Lp(a), and cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, protein, apolipoproteins AI, AII, B were determined in serum and lipoproteins.

RESULTS: The dietary intervention decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids, apo AII (all, p < 0.001) and apo B (p < 0.01). Except for triglycerides, all components of the LDL fraction decreased (at least, p < 0.05). HDL-cholesterol was not affected but HDL-phospholipids and HDL-lipids decreased (at least, p < 0.01). VLDL-apo B and VLDL-proteins decreased (all, p < 0.001). Serum Lp(a), TBARS and LDL-TBARS were not affected by the dietary exchange. The estimate of 10-year cardiovascular risk decreased (p < 0.05). Apo AII (p = 0.061) and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05) underwent greater modifications in normocholesterolemics, while LDL-phospholipids (p = 0.094), experienced greater alterations in hypercholesterolemics. No significant interaction was observed between dietary exchange and age (> or <65 yrs).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the dietary exchange of an olive oil and sunflower oil blend for extra virgin olive decreases LDL and apo AII levels, and the estimate of 10-year cardiovascular risk.