7.5 Lipids in Health and Disease

Question 1

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 1

A type of CVD that is the build up of fatty materials in artery walls, causing heart attacks and some strokes

Question 2

Certain ______ can increase or decrease the risk of developing atherosclerosis

Answer 2

lipids

Question 3

Besides lipids, what can increase the risk of atherosclerosis?

Answer 3

Low physical activity, obesity, stress

Question 4

Trans fats are known to increase what?

Answer 4

Ratio of LDL to HDL
Risk of CVD
Risk of CVD mortality

Question 5

How can we avoid trans fats?

Answer 5

Minimize consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods, especially those that are hydrogenated

Question 6

Diets high a sat fats imply what?

Answer 6

Increased LDL levels, which increases risk of CVD (lipid hypothesis)

A direct link has not been established between sat fats and CVD

Question 7

How can we lower the risk that comes with a diet high in sat fats?

Answer 7

Replace sat fats (animal products) with unsat fats (plant products)

Question 8

When _________ fatty acids replace saturated fat, LDL levels decrease

Answer 8

polyunsaturated

Question 9

What are the 2 types of essential fatty acids?

Answer 9

Omega-3 and Omega-6

Question 10

What are the effects of omega-3 fatty acids?

Answer 10

Reduces CVD risk by decreasing inflammation, blood cholesterol, vasoconstriction, and blood clotting.

Caused by the ecosanoids they form

Question 11

Does supplementing omega-3 fatty acids further reduce risk of CVD?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

What are the effects of omega-6 fatty acids?

Answer 12

Increases risk of CVD as they increase inflammation and blood clotting. But can also reduce risk of CBD

Question 13

What shared effect to both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids provide?

Answer 13

Protective effects on the brain

Question 14

Dietary cholesterol has a minimal effect on increasing ___ and CVD risk.

Answer 14

LDL

Question 15

What are cholesterol hyper-responders?

Answer 15

People who’s LDL levels go up when more cholesterol is consumed

Question 16

What percentage of people are cholesterol hyper-responders?

Answer 16

25 to 30%

Question 17

Eggs are extremely nutrient dense. What do they contain?

Answer 17

Each 75 kcal egg is high in protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.
Can also be high in omega-3 fatty acids if chickens are fed flax seeds

Question 18

Why are eggs controversial? Why do we not have to worry about this?

Answer 18

They are high in cholesterol (225 mg/egg).
In moderation (1-3 eggs/day) they do not increase risk to CVD.

Question 19

How do plant sterols help our body?

Answer 19

Reduce LDL levels by competing with cholesterol for absorption and altering cholesterol metabolism.

Research to see if this reduces CVD risk is still ongoing.

Question 20

What are the sources of each type of fat?

Answer 20

Trans: Highly processed goods
Sat: Animal products, butter, tropical oils
Omega-3: Flax/chia seeds, fatty fish, fish oils
Omega-6: soy, corn, vegetable oils
Cholesterol: Eggs, shellfish, animal products
Plant sterols: Nuts, fruits, seeds

Question 21

What is the lipid hypothesis?

Answer 21

Suggests that one of the main drivers of CVD are the lipids found in our diet and blood