Conclusions In the context of low SFAs , high-MUFA diets in isocaloric substitution for high-CHO diets did not affect blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension .
Context Current dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease risk management recommend restricting intake of saturated fatty acids ( SFAs ) .
However , the optimal macronutrient profile , in the context of a low-SFA diet , remains controversial .
The blood-pressure effect of replacing SFAs in diets with monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs ) compared with carbohydrate has not been quantified to date .
SFAs do not impair endothelial function and arterial stiffness123
Background : It is uncertain whether saturated fatty acids ( SFAs ) impair endothelial function and contribute to arterial stiffening . Objective : We tested the effects of replacing SFAs with monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs ) or carbohydrates on endothelial function and arterial stiffness . Design : With the use of a parallel- design ed r and omized controlled trial in 121 insulin-resistant men and women , we measured vascular function after 1 mo of consumption of a high-SFA ( HS ) diet and after 24 wk after r and om assignment to the HS diet or diets that contained < 10 % SFAs and were high in either MUFAs or carbohydrates . The primary outcome was a change in flow-mediated dilation ( FMD ) , and secondary outcomes were changes in carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity ( PWV ) and plasma 8-isoprostane F2α-III concentrations . Results : For 112 participants with data available for analysis on the specified outcomes , no significant differences were shown . FMD with the HS reference diet was 6.7 ± 2.2 % , and changes ( 95 % CIs ) after 6 mo of intervention were + 0.3 ( −0.4 , 1.1 ) , −0.2 ( −0.8 , 0.5 ) , and −0.1 ( −0.6 , 0.7 ) with HS , high-MUFA ( HM ) , and high-carbohydrate ( HC ) diets , respectively . After consumption of the HS reference diet , the geometric mean ( ±SD ) PWV was 7.67 ± 1.62 m/s , and mean percentages of changes ( 95 % CIs ) were −1.0 ( −6.2 , 4.3 ) with the HS diet , 2.7 ( −1.4 , 6.9 ) with the HM diet , and −1.0 ( −5.5 , 3.4 ) with the HC diet . With the HS reference diet , the geometric mean ( ±SD ) plasma 8-isoprostane F2α-III concentration was 176 ± 85 pmol/L , and mean percentage of changes ( 95 % CIs ) were 1 ( −12 , 14 ) with the HS diet , 6 ( −5 , 16 ) with the HM diet , and 4 ( −7 , 16 ) with the HC diet . Conclusion : The replacement of SFAs with MUFAs or carbohydrates in healthy subjects does not affect vascular function . This trial was registered at Current Controlled Trials ( http://www.controlled-trials.com/IS RCT N ) as IS RCT N 29111298
Conclusions In the context of low SFAs , high-MUFA diets in isocaloric substitution for high-CHO diets did not affect blood pressure in individuals with and without hypertension .
Context Current dietary guidelines for cardiovascular disease risk management recommend restricting intake of saturated fatty acids ( SFAs ) .
However , the optimal macronutrient profile , in the context of a low-SFA diet , remains controversial .
The blood-pressure effect of replacing SFAs in diets with monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs ) compared with carbohydrate has not been quantified to date .