Study of the Impact of Trans Fatty Acids From Dairy Products on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

The proposed research will be undertaken as a double-blind randomized cross-over study according to a Latin Square design, with participants being subjected to 4 consecutive isocaloric diets in random order lasting 4 weeks each. No stratification is considered since the population recruited will be relatively homogeneous. The 4 experimental diets are: 1- a diet rich in ruminant TFA (8 g/day); 2- a diet moderately rich in ruminant TFA (4 g/day); 3- a diet rich in industrial TFA (8 g/d); 4- a control diet (minimal dietary TFA of industrial and ruminant sources). The source of ruminant TFA will come from butter and cream obtained after having modified the regimen of lactating cows in a fashion similar to the one used to increase the levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in milk fat. Hydrogenated margarine will be used as the main source of industrial TFA. Finally, a butter obtained from cows producing the lowest levels of ruminant fat will be used to formulate the control diet (minimal dietary TFA). All diets will be identical in terms of menus, calories and macronutrient composition with the exception of TFA sources and levels. Minor differences in the levels of total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids will be matched across diets by adding various vegetable and animal oils. The macronutrient composition of each meal and thus of the entire day is very similar across all 4 diets. Based on a 2500 kcal/day regimen, an intake of TFA of 8 g/d and 4 g/d will represent 72 kcal/day and 36 kcal/day respectively (3% and 1.5% of energy intake). The 4 experimental diets will be formulated so that the percentage of daily calories from fat (36%), carbohydrates (50%) and proteins (14%) will meet most of the dietary recommendations of the American Heart Association and the NCEP for primary prevention of CVD, with the exception of SAT (slight excess) and fibers (slight deficit). The slight excess in SAT fat cannot be avoided since we are using butter as the primary source of ruminant TFA. The cholesterol content of the experimental diet will not exceed 300 mg/day.