Substituting dietary saturated for monounsaturated fat impairs insulin sensitivity in healthy men and women: The KANWU study (original) (raw)

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Aims/hypothesis. The amount and quality of fat in the diet could be of importance for development of insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders. Our aim was to determine whether a change in dietary fat quality alone could alter insulin action in humans. Methods. The KANWU study included 162 healthy subjects chosen at random to receive a controlled, isoenergetic diet for 3 months containing either a high proportion of saturated (SAFA diet) or monounsaturated (MUFA diet) fatty acids. Within each group there was a second assignment at random to supplements with fish oil (3.6 g n-3 fatty acids/d) or placebo. Results. Insulin sensitivity was significantly impaired on the saturated fatty acid diet (-10 %, p = 0.03) but did not change on the monounsaturated fatty acid diet ( + 2 %, NS) (p = 0.05 for difference between diets). Insulin secretion was not affected. The addition of n-3 fatty acids influenced neither insulin sensitivity nor insulin secretion. The favourable effects of substituting a monounsaturated fatty acid diet for a saturated fatty acid diet on insulin sensitivity were only seen at a total fat intake below median (37E %). Here, insulin sensitivity was 12.5 % lower and 8.8 % higher on the saturated fatty acid diet and monounsaturated fatty acid diet respectively (p = 0.03). Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) increased on the saturated fatty acid diet ( + 4.1 %, p < 0.01) but decreased on the monounsaturated fatty acid diet (MUFA) (–5.2, _p_ < 0.001), whereas lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] increased on a monounsaturated fatty acid diet by 12 % (_p_ < 0.001). _Conclusions/interpretation._ A change of the proportions of dietary fatty acids, decreasing saturated fatty acid and increasing monounsaturated fatty acid, improves insulin sensitivity but has no effect on insulin secretion. A beneficial impact of the fat quality on insulin sensitivity is not seen in individuals with a high fat intake ( > 37E %). [Diabetologia (2001) 44: 312–319]

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit for Clinical Nutrition Research, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Geriatrics, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden, , , , , , SE
    B. Vessby, C. Nälsén, L. Berglund & I.-B. Gustafsson
  2. Department of Clinical Nutrition, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland, , , , , , FI
    M. Uusitupa & A. Louheranta
  3. Department of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Aarhus Amtssygehus and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark, , , , , , DK
    K. Hermansen, B. M. Rasmussen & E. Pedersen
  4. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy, , , , , , IT
    G. Riccardi, A. A. Rivellese & A. Maffetone
  5. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medical Research Unit, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia, , , , , , AU
    L. C. Tapsell, G. D. Calvert & L. H. Storlien

Authors

  1. B. Vessby
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  2. M. Uusitupa
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  3. K. Hermansen
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  4. G. Riccardi
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  5. A. A. Rivellese
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  6. L. C. Tapsell
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  7. C. Nälsén
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  8. L. Berglund
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  9. A. Louheranta
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  10. B. M. Rasmussen
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  11. G. D. Calvert
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  12. A. Maffetone
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  13. E. Pedersen
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  14. I.-B. Gustafsson
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  15. L. H. Storlien
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Received: 21 August 2000 and in revised form: 8 November 2000

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Vessby, B., Uusitupa, M., Hermansen, K. et al. Substituting dietary saturated for monounsaturated fat impairs insulin sensitivity in healthy men and women: The KANWU study.Diabetologia 44, 312–319 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001250051620

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