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 .
Effect on blood pressure of two diets differing in total fat but not in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in healthy volunteers.
The effects of a low-fat , carbohydrate-rich and a high-fat , olive-oil-rich diet on blood pressure were studied under strict dietary control . Forty-seven healthy normotensive men and women were fed a diet high in saturated fatty acids ( 20 en% ) and total fat ( 38 en% ) for 17 d. Twenty-four subjects then received a low-fat , carbohydrate-rich diet ( total fat 22 en% ) and the other 23 a high-fat , olive-oil-rich diet ( oleic acid 24 en% , total fat 41 en% ) for 36 d. Both test diets had the same level of saturated fatty acids ( 7 - 10 en% ) and linoleic acid ( 4 en% ) . Systolic blood pressure fell by 2.3 and diastolic by 4.7 mm Hg in the carbohydrate group and by 2.7 and 4.4 mm Hg in the olive-oil group , respectively ( differences between diets groups not significant ) . These results suggest that a high-fat diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids has no deleterious effect on blood pressure in healthy normotensive subjects in comparison with a low-fat , carbohydrate-rich diet
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 .