Die Wirkung pflanzlicher Fette auf den menschlichen Lipidstoffwechsel

The plasma cholesterol level is influenced by the quality and the quantity of the dietary fat. In regard to vegetable fat one has to distinguish between the opposing effects of saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. If the normal diet, which contains predominantly saturated fatty acids is changed to a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids one can observe a fall in plasma cholesterol. This phenomenon has been confirmed by many observers. A satisfactory explanation for the lipidlowering properties of polyunsaturated fats has not been found so far. Three theories are discussed: a. increase of cholesterol and bile acid excretion in the feces. b. decrease of the capacity of lipoproteins to carry lipids. c. redistribution of cholesterol with transport of plasma cholesterol to the tissues.