Lipaemia and lipoproteinaemia in a Spanish male nonsmoker population consuming sunflower oil.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of altered levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoprotein (Apo) B in very active, 20 to 65 year-old, Spanish male nonsmokers who consumed sunflower oil. Among the 169 participants, total serum cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C were found to be age-dependent variables. A detailed study over a 12-day period showed that this population displayed a Mediterranean dietary pattern, with the exception of the substitution of sunflower for olive oil Saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids represented 9.9%, 12.7% and 8.8% of the total amount of energy, respectively. The cholesterol-saturated fat index of the average diet was 19.2 per 1000 kcal, whereas the Keys index of the diet was 27.1. Daily intakes of fibre, ascorbic acid and vitamin E were 25.1 g, 89.6 mg and 28.3 mg, respectively. The calcium/magnesium ratio of the average diet was 1.54. The low percentage of individuals with high TC levels (5.4% with TC > or = 6.49 mmol/L), high TG levels (3.7% with TG > or = 2.25 mmol/L), high Apo B levels (3.0% with > or = 1.5 g/L), low levels of HDL-C (0.7% with < or = 0.91 mmol/L), high LDL-C levels (1.4% with > or = 4.94 mmol/L or a high TC/HDL-C ratio (2.8% with > or = 5.0) suggest a reasonable protection against coronary heart disease in this Spanish population.