Cholesterol, coconuts, and diet on Polynesian atolls: A natural experiment: The Pukapuka and Tokelau Island studies
1981
Prior, Ian A. | Davidson, Flora | Salmond, C. E. | Czochanska, Z.
The effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat on serum cholesterol levels were examined in a dietary study of 2 Polynesian island populations. Traditional diets of both groups are high in saturated fat and low in cholesterol and sucrose. Although coconuts are the major energy source for both Pukapukans and Tokelauans, the amount of energy obtained from coconut in the 2 populations is 34 and 63% respectively; thus, saturated fat intakes of Tokelauans are much higher. Serum cholesterol levels also were 35-40 mg higher in Tokelauans than in Pukapukans, indicating a relationship between dietary saturated fat intakes and serum cholesterol concentration. Food analyses and fat biopsies were characterized by high lauric and myristic acid content. As coronary heart disease is rare in both groups, it was concluded that high saturated fat intakes do not appear to carry adverse cardiovascular risk for these Polynesian peoples. (nm)
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