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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #88666
Title: A DIET HIGH IN WHOLE AND UNREFINED FOODS DECREASES CHOLESTEROL OXIDATION AND NEED FOR OXIDATIVE DEFENSE DEPENDENT ON COPPER AND SELENIUM

Author
item Klevay, Leslie
item BRUCE, BONNIE - SPHERA FOUNDATION
item GALLAGHER, SANDRA - UNIV. OF NORTH DAKOTA
item KUYPERS, F - CHORI
item ROITMAN, E - CHORI
item SPILLER, GENE - SPHERA FOUNDATION

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/9/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Only four classes of etiologic agents capable of causing human illness have been identified: toxicity, heredity, infection and deficiency; illnesses can result from cooperations between agents from different classes (Klevay, Med. Hypoth. 27:65, 1988). It seems likely that phytochemicals may alter physiology dependent on essential nutrients. To test this hypothesis, we examined data collected when 12 hyperlipidemic women (34-84 yr) consumed either a diet based on refined plant foods and low in fruits and vegetables or a diet high in whole grains, nuts, olive oil, sun-dried raisins, sesame seeds, green tea plus leafy green and yellow/orange vegetables. Energy (6800 j) and total fat (31%) were similar in both diets, but there were some major differences in dietary chemistry: tocopherols, other phenolics & carotenoids all increased by about 500% in the unrefined diet alon with 160% more fiber, 130% more vitamin C, 105% more copper, 61% less saturated fat and 29% less protein. After four weeks the unrefined diet deceased total serum cholesterol by 13% (p < 0.001). Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (pyrogallol method) and plasma glutathione peroxidase deceased by 70% and 35%, respectively (p <0.01). Ten of 12 subjects had less 7-oxo- cholesterol (by GC-Mass Spec) in plasma (range -4 to -48%, men -21%, p < 0.04, by sign test) after the unrefined diet. This diet provides less oxidizing load and induces less oxidation of cholesterol, thereby decreasing the need for antioxidant defense mechanisms based on copper and selenium. A beneficial interaction with essential nutrients was found.