Carbohydrate intake and HDL in a multiethnic population

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2007, Vol.85 (1), p.225-230
• Main Authors: Merchant, Anwar T, Anand, Sonia S, Kelemen, Linda E, Vuksan, Vlad, Jacobs, Ruby, Davis, Bonnie, Teo, Koon, Yusuf, Salim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beverages - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; blood lipids; carbohydrate intake; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet Surveys; diet-related diseases; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary Carbohydrates - classification; Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism; ethnic differences; Ethnicity; Fasting - blood; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; food frequency questionnaires; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycemic Index; high density lipoprotein; Humans; lipoproteins; Male; men; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; nationalities and ethnic groups; Surveys and Questionnaires; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; women
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/85.1.225

BACKGROUND:Ethnic differences in serum lipids are not explained by genetics, central adiposity, lifestyle, or diet, possibly because dietary carbohydrate has not been considered. OBJECTIVE:The aim was to evaluate the relation between carbohydrate intake and HDL and triacylglycerol concentrations in a multiethnic population. DESIGN:We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of 619 Canadians of Aboriginal, South Asian, Chinese, and European origin with no previously diagnosed medical conditions. Energy-adjusted carbohydrate intake was measured by a validated food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS:South Asians consumed the most carbohydrate, followed by European, Aboriginal, and Chinese persons. Mean (95% CI) HDL concentrations in the lowest and highest categories of carbohydrate intake after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, physical activity, smoking, the waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, alcohol intake, and intakes of total energy, protein, and fiber were 1.21 mmol/L (1.16, 1.27 mmol/L) and 1.08 mmol/L (1.02, 1.13 mmol/L), respectively, and HDL cholesterol was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the lowest tertile of carbohydrate intake than in the highest tertile. High carbohydrate intake was associated with higher fasting triacylglycerols (P = 0.04); the adjusted mean fasting triacylglycerol concentrations in the lowest and highest categories of carbohydrate intake were 1.43 mmol/L (1.28, 1.60 mmol/L) and 1.71 mmol/L (1.57, 1.87 mmol/L), respectively. Fewer servings of sugar-containing soft drinks, juices, and snacks were associated with higher HDL (P for trend = 0.02); the multivariate-adjusted mean HDL in the lowest and highest categories of carbohydrate intake was 1.22 mmol/L (1.17, 1.27 mmol/L) and 1.11 mmol/L (1.06, 1.26 mmol/L), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:Differences in HDL and triacylglycerols observed in different ethnic groups may be due in part to carbohydrate intake. Reducing the frequency of intake of sugar-containing soft drinks, juices, and snacks may be beneficial.