U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home News & Events News Articles Research News 2003





- ARS News & Events
- AgResearch Magazine
- Image Gallery
- News
- Search News & Events
- Pesticide Drift May Endanger Pollinators
- ARS Seeks a Fire Ant Fix
- Scientific Discoveries 2024
- ARS Featured Photos
- Down on the Farm
- Facebook Live Events
- Food and Nutrition Research Briefs
- News Archive
- Science in Your Shopping Cart
- Scientific Discoveries
- Social Media
- Under the Microscope
- AgResearch magazine
- ARS at Work
- ARS Memorial Lectures
- ARS Science Hall of Fame
- Citrus Disease (Huanglongbing)
- Contact Office of Communications
- Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Mobile Apps
- Public Affairs Contacts
- Publications and Other Resources
- USDA Blog
- Videos

Archived Page
 This page has been archived and is being provided for reference purposes only. The page is no longer being updated, and therefore, links on the page may be invalid.
 Some LDL-Cholesterol Particles Are Worse Than Others
By Rosalie Marion BlissOctober 24, 2003
Consuming higher levels of dietary trans fatty acids is associated with higher blood levels of small, unhealthy particles of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), according to a recent study funded in part by the Agricultural Research Service. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.
When lipoprotein particles are formed within cells, phospholipids and apoproteins make up the surface, while triglyceride and cholesterol form the core.
LDLs circulate in the bloodstream as populations of small, medium or large particles, which carry the majority of cholesterol to parts of the body and are therefore referred to as "bad" cholesterol. Smaller particles accumulate within blood more readily than larger particles. Unfortunately, previous research has shown that even among people with normal blood levels of LDL-cholesterol, those with high levels of smaller-sized LDL particles are at significantly increased risk of heart disease.
In the study, 36 volunteers were provided with five 35-day experimental diets. Key test ingredients with varying levels of trans fatty acids were semiliquid margarine (very low), soft margarine (mildly low), shortening (intermediate), stick margarine (high), or butter (low in trans fatty acids, high in saturated fat). The researchers found an increase in small and more compact LDL-cholesterol particles with increased consumption of trans fatty acids.
Trans fatty acids are formed during the manufacturing process called hydrogenation, in which oil is transformed from a liquid to a more versatile, solid fat. These hydrogenated oils are used in thousands of processed foods, such as commercially baked goods and margarines.
The ARS-funded scientists who, with several colleagues, conducted the study are Alice H. Lichtenstein and Susan M. Jalbert, with the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston, Mass.
The scientists concluded that the results reinforce the importance of consuming diets low in trans fatty acids to improve lipoprotein profiles. Manufacturers will be required to list the content of trans fatty acids on food labels by January 1, 2006.


Return to top


Research
                            Media
                            About ARS
                            Work With Us


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov