Effect of dietary stearic acid on plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels
Abstract
We studied the metabolic effects of stearic acid (18:0) on plasma lipoprotein levels in 11 subjects during three dietary periods of three weeks each. The three liquid-formula diets, which were used in random order, were high in palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid, and oleic acid (18:1), respectively. Caloric intakes were the same during the three periods. As compared with the values observed when the subjects were on the high-palmitic-acid diet, plasma total cholesterol decreased by an average of 14 percent during consumption of the high-stearic-acid diet (P less than 0.005) and by 10 percent during consumption of the high-oleic-acid diet (P less than 0.02). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels fell by 21 percent in subjects on the high-stearic-acid diet (P less than 0.005) and by 15 percent in subjects on the high-oleic-acid diet (P less than 0.005). No significant differences were observed in the plasma levels of triglycerides or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among the three diets. Measurements of the intestinal absorption of palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids revealed essentially complete absorption of each during the three dietary periods. The oleic acid content of plasma triglycerides and cholesteryl esters increased significantly during the high-stearic-acid period, suggesting that stearic acid is rapidly converted to oleic acid. We conclude that stearic acid appears to be as effective as oleic acid in lowering plasma cholesterol levels when either replaces palmitic acid in the diet.
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COB's cholesterol-neutral effect may be explained by rapid conversion of stearic acid to 18:1 and enhanced fecal excretion of stearic acid, likely due to its longer chain length and regiospecificity.
“which may be explained by rapid conversion of stearic acid to 18:1 (51) and enhanced fecal excretion of stearic acid (52), likely due to its longer chain length (53) and regiospecificity (54).”
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- Authors
- Bonanome, A., & Grundy, S. M.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
- ORCID
- Grundy, Scott M.
- Venue
- New England Journal of Medicine
- Publisher
- Massachusetts Medical Society
- Published
- 1988-05-12
- Volume
- 318
- Issue
- 19
- Pages
- 1244-1248
- ISSN
- 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
- 1533-4406
- OpenAlex
- W2332329536
- Cited by
- 915
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 39.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
- Keywords
- stearic acid, dietary fatty acids, serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, oleic acid, palmitic acid, liquid formula diet, intestinal fatty acid absorption, cholesterol lowering, triglycerides, cholesterol esters
- MeSH terms
- Cholesterol, Diet, Fatty Acids, Humans, Intestinal Absorption, Lipoproteins, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Male, Middle Aged, Oleic Acids, Palmitic Acids, Stearic Acids, Triglycerides, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid
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