Good cholesterol may be cut by simple sugars
term, but they are also known to reduce levels of HDL or 'good'
cholesterol. According to Reuters Health, recent research appears
to have discovered why - simple sugars.
Low-fat diets can have significant health benefits in the long term, but they are also known to reduce levels of HDL or 'good' cholesterol. According to Reuters Health, recent research appears to have discovered why - simple sugars.
On a low-fat die, fats are replaced by simple sugars in products such as fat-free baked goods and processed foods. These simple sugars have been found to reduce HDL levels, and low HDL levels are known to be a potential source of heart disease in women.
"The current American food supply offers an abundance of low-fat and fat-free foods that depend on simple carbohydrates or added sugars to improve their flavour," said Linda B. Bunyard from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. "Whether the recent trend toward fat-modified foods provides an overall benefit to this population is questionable."
In the study, 55 overweight and obese postmenopausal white women followed the American Heart Association's Step 1 diet, in which no more than 30% of total calories come from fat. The women were mostly inactive and their average body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight in relation to height, was 33. People with a BMI of at least 25 are considered overweight, while those with a BMI of 30 or above are obese.
After 10 weeks, the women lost an average of 2% of their body weight, reduced total cholesterol by 8% and cut LDL or "bad" cholesterol by 6%. HDL cholesterol, however, declined by 16%. The research was published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
During the same period, the women's average intakes of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol fell, while the percent of calories from carbohydrates - including both complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and simple sugars - rose. According to the analysis, a higher average intake of simple sugars was the only dietary change associated with lower HDL.
The researchers were quick to point out that their findings did not mean that individuals should avoid fruits and vegetables and added that more research was needed to determine which simple sugars contribute to reductions in 'good' cholesterol.
