Open AccessA Practical Approach to the Dietary Treatment of Hypertriglyceridemia
Author(s) -
MuellerCunningham Wendy M.,
Hyson Dianne
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
preventive cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1751-7141
pISSN - 1520-037X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1520-037x.2001.00547.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hypertriglyceridemia , carbohydrate , weight loss , triglyceride , coronary artery disease , endocrinology , cholesterol , obesity
Reducing high plasma triglyceride (TG) levels is an important step in the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease. The rise in plasma TGs seen after subjects consume low‐fat, high‐carbohydrate diets for a period of time may be due to the simple form of carbohydrate provided and/or prevention of weight loss in these studies. Ad libitum low‐fat, high‐carbohydrate intake often results in weight loss and decreases in plasma TGs. Replacing dietary carbohydrate with monounsaturated fat lowers serum TG levels and maintains serum high‐density lipoprotein levels but fails to result in weight loss. Low fat, high complex carbohydrate intake reduces incidence rates of coronary artery disease. On the basis of the evidence, a lowfat, high‐complex carbohydrate diet combined with limited alcohol and sugar intake is recommended for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.