The relationship of serum vitamin A, cholesterol, and triglycerides to the incidence of ovarian cancer

Prospective and retrospective studies have suggested that serum vitamin A and total cholesterol levels may be associated with cancer. Our study showed that the mean (+/- SEM) concentrations of serum vitamin A 489 +/- 33.28 (mean +/- SEM micrograms/liter and serum total cholesterol 174.7 +/- 8.96 (mean +/- SEM) mg/dl from ovarian cancer patients in Singapore were significantly lower than the respective values of 668 +/- 25.10 (mean +/- SEM) microgram/liter and 210.7 4.48 (mean +/- SEM) mg/dl from noncancerous control subjects (P less than 0.0001 for both compounds). In addition, ovarian cancer patients did not show significantly lower serum triglyceride levels than the control subjects. Age did not significantly correlate the serum vitamin A and total cholesterol concentrations, but there was correlation with respect to the serum triglyceride levels. There were moderate correlations between vitamin A and cholesterol levels (r = 0.36, P less than 0.0027) and between cholesterol and triglyceride levels (r = 0.37, P less than 0.0024) in the control subjects but not in the cancer patients. Vitamin A levels correlated moderately with triglyceride levels in both the cancer patients (r = 0.42, P less than 0.0258) and the control subjects (r = 0.33, P less than 0.0069). The inverse relationship between the incidence of ovarian cancer and serum vitamin A and serum total cholesterol concentrations may have distinct implications for preventive medicine and public health.     

Serum leptin concentrations in young insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant volunteers.

The aim of this study was to compare metabolic profiles and serum leptin concentrations between young insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant subjects. A cross-sectional study was performed in 32 healthy, non-obese, young volunteers. Assessing of insulin sensitivity, serum leptin concentration, serum uric acid, creatinine levels and lipid profile were done on all subjects. An insulin suppression test modified with octreotide was performed to assess insulin sensitivity. Steady state glucose (SSG) and steady state insulin concentrations were calculated. Based on the SSG data, the volunteers were divided into four quartiles, considering as insulin-sensitive individuals those from quartile 1 to quartile 3, and insulin-resistant subjects those in quartile 4. Characteristics of both groups were compared, including metabolic profile and leptin levels. After dividing SSG into quartiles, 24 subjects were considered as insulin-sensitive individuals, and 8 were assessed as insulin-resistant subjects. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in the insulin-resistant group than in the insulin-sensitive group. Serum leptin concentration was significantly higher (p=0.05) in insulin-resistant women (6.1 +/- 3.1 ng/ml) than those considered as insulin-sensitive (3.7 +/- 2.3 ng/ml). In conclusion, insulin-resistant subjects had higher concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol compared to insulin-sensitive individuals. Serum leptin level was higher in insulin-resistant women than those considered as insulin-sensitive.     

Serum, but not monocyte macrophage foam cells derived from low HDL-C subjects, displays reduced cholesterol efflux capacity

The main antiatherogenic function of HDL is to promote the efflux of cholesterol from peripheral cells and transport it to the liver for excretion in a process termed reverse cholesterol transport. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cholesterol efflux capacity in low- and high-HDL subjects by utilizing monocytes and serum from 18 low-HDL and 15 high-HDL subjects. Low and high HDL levels were defined, respectively, as HDL < or =10(th) and HDL > or =90(th) Finnish age/sex-specific percentile. Cholesterol efflux from [(3)H]cholesterol-oleate-acetyl-LDL-loaded monocyte-derived macrophages to standard apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), HDL(2), and serum was measured. In addition, cholesterol efflux from acetyl-LDL-loaded human THP-1 macrophages to individual sera (0.5%) derived from the study subjects was evaluated. Cholesterol efflux to apoA-I, HDL(2), and serum from macrophage foam cells derived from low- and high-HDL subjects was similar. The relative ABCA1 and ABCG1 mRNA expression levels in unloaded macrophages, as well as their protein levels in loaded macrophage foam cells, were similar in the two study groups. Cholesterol efflux from THP-1 foam cells to serum recovered from high-HDL subjects was slightly higher than that to serum from low-HDL subjects (P = 0.046). Cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophages to serum from study subjects correlated with serum apoB (P = 0.033), apoA-I (P = 0.004), apoA-II (P < 0.0001), and the percentage of apoA-I present in the form of prebeta-HDL (P = 0.0001). Our data reveal that macrophages isolated from either low- or high-HDL subjects display similar cholesterol efflux capacity to exogenous acceptors. However, sera from low-HDL subjects have poorer cholesterol acceptor ability as compared with sera from high-HDL subjects.     

Are there differences in serum cholesterol and cortisol concentrations between violent and non-violent schizophrenic male suicide attempters?

Previous studies have shown an association between low concentration of serum cholesterol, as well as high concentration of serum cortisol, in suicide behavior. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether men after a violent suicide attempts have different serum cholesterol and cortisol concentrations than those who attempted suicide by non-violent methods. Venous blood samples were collected within 24 hours of admission, to study concentrations of serum cholesterol and cortisol. The sample consisted of 31 male subjects suffering from schizophrenia, admitted in a general hospital after suicide attempt, and was compared with 15 schizophrenic nonsuicidal male controls. Patients with a violent suicidal attempt were found to have significantly lower cholesterol levels and significantly higher cortisol level than patients with non-violent attempts and the control subjects. Our findings suggest that suicide attempts should not be considered a homogenous group. The hypothesis of an association of violent suicidal attempts and peripheral biological markers (cholesterol and cortisol) was supported by our findings.     

Oat Bran as a Cholesterol-Reducing Dietary Adjunct in a Young,Healthy Population

In a study to examine the effects of dietary oat bran on serum lipids, subjects who ate two oat bran muffins a day for 28 days showed a 5.3% reduction in serum total cholesterol and an 8.7% reduction in low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol levels, while no changes were noted in subjects consuming wheat or mixed wheat and oat bran muffins. Similarly, those who ingested oat bran muffins showed an 8.3% reduction in serum triglyceride values as contrasted with an overall increase of 6.4% in the other groups combined. These findings suggest that oat bran taken daily can significantly lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a young, healthy population.     

Relationship between indices of iron status and coronary risk factors including diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in Saudi subjects without overt coronary disease

There have been inconsistent reports on the relationship between iron status and coronary artery diseases (CAD), and little data on this relationship in non-Caucasian populations.

We assessed dietary iron by questionnaire and measured serum iron and ferritin levels in 270 Saudi male subjects without established CAD, 130 of whom were angiogram negative. Serum lipid profile, glucose, high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (sICAM-1), and caeruloplasmin were measured in all subjects.

The angiogram negative patients, had lower serum ferritin (p<0.05) and iron (p<0.0001) levels than the 140 subjects without reported cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Serum iron correlated with serum triglycerides (p<0.0001) and total cholesterol (p<0.05) levels for this latter group and the groups combined. Serum ferritin correlated with serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol in the combined group (p<0.05), and was correlated with blood glucose and serum LDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) in the subjects without reported CVD. After adjustment for confounding variables, serum iron levels remained a significant correlate with total calorie intake and serum triglycerides. Serum ferritin also correlated significantly with cholesterol intake and fasting serum total cholesterol. Dietary iron was significantly related to dietary cholesterol and fiber, age, smoking habits, and serum total cholesterol level.

Hence, indices of iron status were related to several coronary risk factors in the Saudi population.     

细菌脂多糖(LPS)在糖尿病视网膜微血管病变中的作用

本研究旨在通过Akita小鼠糖尿病模型及糖尿病人群血浆样本,探讨病原体相关性分子细菌脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)在糖尿病视网膜病变中的重要作用。本研究选择6个月糖尿病病程的Akita小鼠(Ins2+/Akita)及其同年龄组野生型(wild type,WT)小鼠(C57BL/6J)尾静脉内注射脂多糖(LPS)或生理盐水对照共7 d,从影像学、电生理及病理学水平评估糖尿病视网膜眼病进展。最后收集糖尿病视网膜眼病患者及对照人群血标本,通过ELISA测定血浆LPS表达水平。通过光学相干断层扫描技术分析,发现Akita小鼠的视网膜层间厚度较WT小鼠组相比明显变薄(p=0.000 2),LPS处理进一步加重糖尿病小鼠视网膜结构损害(p=0.000 7)。视网膜电图检测发现LPS处理Akita小鼠组的视网膜细胞幅值较生理盐水处理Akita小鼠显著减慢,有统计学意义(p<0.05)。胰酶消化法分离及PAS染色小鼠眼球视网膜微血管网后,计数测得LPS处理显著增加了Akita小鼠视网膜中无细胞毛细血管数量(p=0.002 6),提示LPS在糖尿病微血管损伤中的重要作用。为保证该研究的临床转化性,我们进一步检测了糖尿病视网膜病变患者(n=19)、糖尿病患者(无微血管并发症)(n=23)及健康对照组(n=20)的血浆LPS水平,发现糖尿病患者血浆LPS水平较健康对照组显著升高(p=0.002 3),其中糖尿病视网膜病变患者LPS升高最为显著(p<0.000 1)。本研究表明,循环中细菌脂多糖增加在糖尿病视网膜病变进展中起到重要作用。     

Relationship between adiponectin and metabolic variables in Caribbean offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To examine the relationship between adiponectin and metabolic variables in the offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Fasting blood samples and anthropometric indices were taken from 34 subjects, offspring of patients with type 2 diabetes, and 24 healthy control subjects without any immediate family history of diabetes. Plasma glucose and serum adiponectin, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels were measured, and insulin resistance (IR) was calculated based on the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) method. RESULTS: Offspring and control subjects were sex-matched, but the offspring were older and had higher body mass index and waist circumference than the control subjects (p < 0.05). The offspring had significantly higher mean fasting plasma glucose concentrations; however, their mean serum insulin, adiponectin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol and HOMA-derived IR levels did not significantly differ from those of the control subjects (p > 0.05). While the negative correlation between serum adiponectin and HDL cholesterol levels in the offspring remained statistically significant after adjusting for the effect of age, sex and BMI (r = -0.37, p < 0.05), the negative correlation between adiponectin and serum triglyceride, LDL cholesterol or IR levels became non-significant after controlling for the above variables (p > 0.05 in all cases). CONCLUSION: The correlation between adiponectin and some known biochemical risk factors for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the offspring of patients with diabetes warrants further study to evaluate its potential in assessing the risk of developing these disorders.     

Soy protein hydrolyzate with bound phospholipids reduces serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic adult male volunteers

This study was done to evaluate the effects of soy protein hydrolyzate with bound phospholipids (c-SPHP), on the serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects over a three-month period. Subjects were Taiwanese adult male volunteers whose serum total cholesterol levels were above 220 mg/dl. Twenty-one subjects were divided into three groups randomly, and each group was given c-SPHP zero, 3, or 6 g per day. Test diets were orally administered in a powdered drink form that contained c-SPHP or casein hydrolyzate (placebo). The subjects were given the test diet four times daily. The study consisted of a two-week pre-feeding period, a three-month feeding period, followed by a two-week post-feeding period. After 3 months of c-SPHP administration, 3 g per day, serum total cholesterol decreased significantly from the initial level (15.0%, p<0.01) and compared with the placebo group (p<0.05). Furthermore, LDL-cholesterol decreased significantly (27.7%, p<0.01) and the LDL/HDL ratio also decreased significantly (47.4%, p<0.01) from the initial levels. These effects of c-SPHP were dose-dependent. This study suggests that c-SPHP has remarkable improving effects on the serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects.     

Effects of cholesterol ester transfer protein Taq1B gene polymorphism on serum lipoprotein levels in Turkish coronary artery disease patients

To evaluate the effect of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) Taq1B gene polymorphism on serum lipid profile in Turkish coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, we investigated Taq1B gene polymorphism of CETP and serum lipid levels in 111 controls and in 173 CAD patients with myocardial infarction. There were no significant differences in the allele distribution at this polymorphic locus between the population sample and patients with coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction. To detect the association between the Taq1B RFLP and serum lipid levels, we determined the serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the subjects studied and correlated the results to the Taq1B RFLP. Patients with Taq B1B1 genotypes had lower HDL-C levels than patients with B2B2 genotype (p = 0.003). Also in control subjects with Taq B1B1 genotype, lower HDL-C levels (p = 0.05) and higher triglyceride levels (p = 0.017) and body mass index (p = 0.05) were observed compared with control subjects with the B1B2 genotype. It was observed that in our population the distribution of CETP Taq1B genotypes is similar to other populations (except Greeks). The present study demonstrates that CETP Taq1B gene polymorphism may be responsible for low HDL cholesterol levels in patients with CAD and in healthy controls in Turkey.     

A relaxation technique in the management of hypercholesterolemia.

Chronic sympathetic nervous system overactivity has been implicated as a factor capable of elevating and maintaining high serum cholesterol levels independent of dietary measures. We conducted a controlled trial to determine the effect of a relaxation technique. Transcendental Meditation, on serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Serum cholesterol levels were measured at beginning and end of an 11-month period in 12 hypercholesterolemic subjects who regularly practiced meditation. Eleven hypercholesterolemic controls who did not practice the technique were similarly followed up for 13 months. Paired comparisons showed a significant (p less than 0.005) reduction in fasting serum cholesterol levels of those subjects who practiced meditation. These results suggest that the regular practice of a relaxation technique may contribute, most likely through a reduction in adrenergic activity, to the amelioration of hypercholesterolemia in certain subjects.     

Effect of red mold rice supplements on serum and meat cholesterol levels of broilers chicken

Monacolin K is a secondary metabolite produced by Monascus species. It was found that it is able to decrease cholesterol levels. In this study, red mold rice (RMR) was added to the diet of Arbor Acres broiler chickens, and the cholesterol level in meat, as well as the concentration of triglyceride, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the serum were evaluated. Four-week-old broilers are studied and divided into four groups in that each group contains 15 subjects. A 3-week experimental feeding trial was conducted in which three groups of broilers were fed 2.0, 5.0, and 8.0% of RMR (RMR groups) within their diet, respectively, and the result was compared to the control group. The results indicated that for each RMR group, the cholesterol content was significantly lower than that of the control group; in addition, their meat products contain higher level of unsaturated fatty acids. Triglyceride and cholesterol concentration in serum was also found to be considerably lower in RMR groups when compared to control group. Finally, in RMR groups, HDL-C/LDL-C and HDL-C/cholesterol ratios were all higher than those of the control group. In short, the results demonstrated that the cholesterol levels could be lowered by adding RMR to the diet of chickens.     

Number of teeth and selected cardiovascular risk factors among elderly people

doi:10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00328.x
Number of teeth and selected cardiovascular risk factors among elderly people Objective: To produce evidence on an association between the number of teeth and selected cardiovascular risk factors among an elderly population. Materials and methods: The study population comprised of 523 community‐living elderly people who participated in the population‐based Kuopio 75+ study. The data for each subject were collected using a structured clinical health examination, an interview and laboratory tests. Linear regression models were used to estimate adjusted mean values and confidence limits. Results: Edentulous persons and persons with a small number of teeth had lower serum HDL cholesterol and higher triglyceride, leucocyte and blood glucose levels and a higher body mass index (BMI) compared with subjects to a large number of teeth. Conclusion: The study showed that, in the Finnish home‐dwelling population aged 75 years or older, those with a large number of teeth were less likely to have cardiovascular risk factors such as a low serum HDL cholesterol level, a high triglyceride level and a high BMI than did subjects with a small number of teeth or who were edentulous.     

Effect of haptoglobin subtypes on serum lipid levels

Haptoglobin (Hp) subtypes were analysed by two-dimensional high-resolution gel electrophoresis in 81 Norwegian individuals with moderate hypercholesterolemia and in 316 Norwegian control subjects. The frequencies of the genes Hp2SS and Hp2SF were higher in individuals with hypercholesterolemia than in controls but the differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.087). Within the control population, no effect of the different Hp subtypes was found on total serum cholesterol, triglycerides or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. However, in the controls a significantly higher frequency of Hp2-2 types was found among those with HDL cholesterol values in the upper quartile as compared to those with HDL cholesterol in the lower quartile. A similar phenomenon was not uncovered in analyses of total serum cholesterol or triglycerides. Our results are in agreement with others which indicate that genes belonging to the Hp polymorphism play a role in predicting an individual's total serum cholesterol level. However, our data indicate that the cholesterol effect is on the HDL rather than on the total cholesterol level.     

Soluble TRAIL Concentration in Serum Is Elevated in People with Hypercholesterolemia

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a multi-functional cytokine, which is involved in the pathophysiological processes of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Previously, we demonstrated that TRAIL stimulated lipid uptake and foam cell formation in macrophages in vitro. Several clinical studies have suggested that the serum concentration of TRAIL may be increased in humans with elevated blood cholesterol; however, the current data appear to be inconclusive in this regard. In the present study, we examined the relationships between the serum TRAIL concentration and cholesterol levels in 352 generally healthy subjects undergoing the routine annual health check. We showed that there were significant correlations between TRAIL concentration and levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols. The level of TRAIL was significantly elevated in subjects with hypercholesterolemia, although this relationship might be also associated with changes of other metabolic factors. Moreover, we showed that the level of blood cholesterol was significantly higher in subjects in the upper quartile of serum TRAIL. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that the serum TRAIL concentration is elevated in people with hypercholesterolemia.     

High molecular weight poly-gamma-glutamic acid regulates lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet and humans

We investigated the effect of high molecular weight polygamma- glutamic acid (hm gamma-PGA) on adiposity and lipid metabolism of rats in the presence of an obesity-inducing diet. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a normal-fat (11.4% kcal fat, NFC) or high-fat (51% kcal fat, HFC) diet. After 5 weeks, half of each diet-fed group was treated with hm gamma-PGA (NFP or HFP) for 4 weeks. The HFC group had significantly higher body weight, visceral fat mass, fasting serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and leptin, and lower serum HDL cholesterol level compared with those of the NFC group (p < 0.05). Treatment with hm gamma-PGA decreased body weight gain and perirenal fat mass (p<0.05), fasting serum total cholesterol, and mRNA expression of glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), regardless of dietary fat contents (p < 0.01). However, hm gamma-PGA increased serum HDL cholesterol in the HFC group (p < 0.05). In vitro, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMGCoA) reductase activity was suppressed by the addition of hm gamma-PGA. In agreement with observations in animal study, the supplementation of hm gamma-PGA (150 mg/day) to 20 female subjects in an 8-week double-blind, placebocontrolled study resulted in a tendency to decrease total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol concentrations. We thus conclude that dietary supplementation of hm gamma-PGA may act as a hypocholestrolemic agent, secondary to its inhibitor effect on HMG-CoA reductase, and decrease abdominal adiposity by decreasing hepatic lipogenesis. The present study is an important first step in establishing the effect of hm gamma-PGA on cholesterol levels in rats and humans.     

Serum Zn Levels and Cu/Zn Ratios Worsen in Hemodialysis Patients,Implying Increased Cardiovascular Risk: A 2-Year Longitudinal Study

The objective of this study was to analyze serum Zn and Cu concentrations and Cu/Zn ratios in 116 hemodialysis patients (HPs) over a 2-year longitudinal study at four time points (6-month intervals). The relation exerted on these values by 26 biochemical and nutritional indexes, the age and drug consumption of the patients, and the etiology of their disease were also evaluated. A healthy control group (n?=?50) was also studied. Mean serum Zn concentrations were lower (p?=?0.009) and the Cu/Zn ratios higher (p?=?0.009) in HPs than in controls. Serum Cu levels in HP did not differ to those of controls. At all four sampling times, the mean serum Zn levels and Cu/Zn ratios were lower and higher, respectively, in HPs than in the controls. There was a significant reduction in serum Zn levels and an increase in Cu concentrations and Cu/Zn ratios in HPs from the second to the fourth sampling. Serum Zn levels of the HPs diminish with age older than 50 years. Serum Cu levels were significantly higher in patients consuming antihypercalcemic or anti-infarction drugs, whereas serum Cu levels and Cu/Zn ratios were significantly lower in those treated with diuretics. Diminished Zn levels were negatively correlated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in HPs; however, enhanced Cu/Zn ratios were positively correlated with total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Both findings indicate an increased cardiovascular risk. We conclude that this study contributes the first evidence of a correlation between marked dyslipidemia and worsened Cu/Zn ratios in HPs, implying an increased risk of diseases associated with elevated oxidative stress, inflammation, and depressed immune function, such as cardiovascular diseases.     

Correlation of the fatty acid composition and fluid property of the cholesteryl esters in the serum of Nigerian children with sickle cell disease and healthy controls

In a previous study conducted in Nigeria, we found that children with sickle cell disease (SCD) had exceedingly low total serum cholesterol levels (mean=100-102mg/dl). The fact that significant reductions in the levels of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been documented in the serum phospholipids of these same SCD subjects led us to inquire as to the fatty acid composition of the cholesteryl esters (CE) in their serum. Lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT), the enzyme in blood that catalyzes the reaction in which tissue cholesterol is acylated prior to its removal from cell membranes, is relatively specific for certain PUFA. CE in blood serum from 43 male and 42 female children with SCD, ages 4-18 years, and equal numbers of age- and gender-matched controls were analyzed for their fatty acid composition. Relative to the non-SCD controls, the CE of the SCD subjects contained 9% less linoleic acid, 16% less arachidonic acid, 40% less alpha-linolenic acid, 50% less eicosapentaenoic acid, and 36% less docosahexaenoic acid, but 15% more palmitic acid and 10% more oleic acid. Overall, the acyl chains of the CE of the SCD subjects were less fluid than those of the controls, as determined by comparison of their mean melting points (MMP) and double bond indices (DBI). MMP and DBI were both estimated from the individual constituent fatty acids comprising the CE acyl chains. The strongest correlations between MMP and fatty acid mole percent were seen with palmitic acid and linoleic acid. These results show that the fatty acid composition of the serum CE of children with SCD is abnormal relative to controls who do not have this hematologic disorder. We speculate that suboptimal fatty acid nutrition in Nigerian children with SCD compromises their ability to remove cholesterol from their tissues due to preference of the LCAT enzyme for PUFA, thereby accounting, in part at least, for the low total serum cholesterol levels one finds in children with SCD.     

Effects of dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols on serum lipoproteins and biochemical parameters in healthy men

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of dietary medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs) on serum lipid levels, liver function, and hepatic fat accumulations in healthy men. Eleven subjects consumed 2200-2600 kcal daily, of which 70-80 g was fat; the fat included 40 g of MCTs or else 40 g of long-chain triacylglycerols (blended vegetable oil). The diet was followed for 4 weeks in this controlled double-blind study. At the end of the experiment, significant differences were not found in the concentrations of serum total cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol between the groups. Serum triglycerol levels were not significantly different in the groups. Adverse effects from ingestion of MCTs on liver functions, the liver-to-spleen ratio on computed tomography (an index of fatty liver), or results of blood tests were not seen. The results suggest that the long-term effects of dietary MCTs on serum cholesterol were similar to those of unsaturated fatty acids found abundantly in vegetable oil, and that consumption of MCTs in the amount of 40 g/day for a month does not cause liver fat accumulation or liver dysfunction.