Trial of Different Dietary Fats on Blood Lipids and Metabolic Measures in Healthy Participants
Trial of Different Dietary Fats on Blood Lipids and Metabolic Measures in Healthy Participants
This is a randomised trial in which healthy volunteers, men and women aged 50-75 years from
 the general community are randomized into one of three arms: participants will be provided
 with 50 gm extra virgin coconut oil,or 50 grams butter or 50 extra virgin olive oil to be
 eaten daily for a month. The key outcome is blood low density lipoprotein cholesterol
 concentrations and secondary outcomes blood lipid profile (total cholesterol, high density
 lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides) and anthropometric measures: weight and waist
 circumference. This trial is powered to detect a difference of 0.5 mmol/L LDL-cholesterol
 difference between the trial arms.
This is a randomized trial in which healthy volunteers from the general community are
 randomized into one of three arms: consumption of 50 gm of extra virgin coconut oil daily OR
 50gm of butter daily OR 50gm of extra virgin olive oil daily (50gm is about 2 ounces, or 2
 table spoons), to be consumed over a one month period.

 The research participants will be recruited from the general community through advertising
 (BBC).

 After full informed consent, participants will attend an assessment visit and have a baseline
 measures of weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, a blood sample for
 assessment of blood lipids and other metabolic markers, and fill in a health questionnaire
 and dietary questionnaire. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of three arms:
 coconut oil, butter or olive oil and will be given supplies of these (portioned, or with
 measuring spoons) with information about daily consumption of 50 gram of one of these fats.

 After one month, participants will return for follow up assessment which will include a
 repeat blood sample, anthropometric measures and blood pressure, and questionnaire.

 Blood samples collected by venepuncture will be stored at the University of Cambridge and
 analysed at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Cambridge University Addenbrooke's
 Hospital.

 At the end of the study, all participants will be given the individual participant results of
 the anthropometric measures and lipid profiles at baseline and follow up as well as the
 overall findings of the trial.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Willing to participate in the trial of dietary interventions for one month within the
 age range

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  No known cardiovascular disease: heart disease or stroke; no known cancer; no known
 diabetes; no use of lipid lowering medication eg. statins; no contraindications to
 high fat diet e.g. gall bladder or other gastrointestinal condition