AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIETARY LIPIDS AND SERUM LIPIDS

This thesis examined the relationship between dietary fat intake and serum lipid levels in a male sample of the pop—ulation in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The total sample of 163 was subdivided into Normals (87) and patients with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) (76). All subjects were participants in an Exercise Research Project, and were between the ages of 35 and 60 years. A 7-day Dietary History was used to evaluate the dietary habits. All subjects completed at least one dietary history. There were also 25 subjects who completed 2, and 2 subjects who did 3 histories. These histories were then coded and computer analyzed. Computer analysis utilized the Master Food Composition Table stored in computer memory. The table contained the nutritional breakdown of some 1,000 different food items. Included on the computer print - out were the daily figures for Calories, Protein, Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Monousaturated Fat, Polyunsaturated Fat, and Cholesterol. The average weekly intake of the above mentioned nutrients was also com—puted. The serum determinations were done by qualified technicians in a hospital laboratory. The figures from these determinations were obtained from the charts of the individual subjects. The other medical data necessary was also obtained from these charts. The dietary and medical data were merged onto computer tape to facilitate analysis Normal subjects as compared to IHD subjects had higher in—takes of cholesterol, total fat, saturated fat and calories. The IHD subjects had higher serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the Normals. In this population sample studied by the author, the high—er dietary intakes of fats did not appear to be associated with the increased serum lipid levels. However, the higher serum lipid levels were associated with the incidence of IHD. According to the literature reviewed, (7, 15, 29, 41, 43) the authors suggest an association be—tween high dietary cholesterol and high serum cholesterol and that this in turn precipitates the occurrence of IHD. This study compared present dietary fat intake with serum lipid levels and did not find a positive relationship