The effect of lean red meat or chicken and fish, in a prudent diet, on the lipid metabolism of hypercholesterolaemic subjects

Abstract

The aim of this clinical cross-over trial was to investigate the effect of two prudent diets, which differed only in the type of "meat" (lean red meat versus chicken without skin, and fish), on plasma lipids and lipoproteins of free-living subjects with age-related elevated plasma total cholesterol levels. The study comprised of Phases 1 and 2, each with a baseline (Phase 1, three weeks; Phase 2, one week), a treatment (six weeks) and a post-treatment period (six weeks). There was a washout period of approximately two months between Phases 1 and 2. Seventy subjects, 36 men and 34 women, between the ages of 20 and 55 years and with elevated plasma total cholesterol levels were recruited for the study. Subjects were recruited from SANLAM, an insurance company, and from the Medical Research Council. Subjects were matched for age and plasma total cholesterol, and randomly allocated to one of three groups; Study Groups 1 and 2, the treatment groups with 28 subjects in each group, and Study Group 3, reference group, with 14 subjects. In Phase l ; Study Group 1 followed a prudent diet with lean red meat (RMD) as the only "meat" in the diet, and Study Group 2 followed a prudent diet with chicken (without skin) and fish (CFD) as the only "meat" in the diet. In Phase 2 the diets were crossed-over. Each subject in the treatment group followed a prescribed diet based on their energy needs. Subjects received pre-packed lean red meat, chicken (without skin) and fish portions free of charge, but they were responsible for the remainder of their diet. The reference group followed their habitual diet (reference diet) throughout the study. ...