Lipoprotein risk factors in vegetarian women of Indian descent are unrelated to dietary intake

Abstract

Dietary intakes, anthropometric indices and plasma lipoprotein and α-tocopherol concentrations were measured in premenopausal vegetarian women of Indian descent ( n = 22) and in white women of European descent consuming either mixed ( n = 22) or vegetarian diets ( n = 18). The Indian women were shorter in height than the white women and had a higher proportion of body fat. Energy intakes were lower in the Indian women, both in absolute terms and per kg body weight. The proportion of energy derived from saturated fatty acids was lower and that from polyunsaturated fatty acids was greater in both Indian and white vegetarians compared with the subjects on mixed diets. Intakes of dietary fibre and vitamins C and E were higher in the white vegetarians compared with the other groups. Plasma concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B and the ratio of apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein AI were lower and HDL and HDL 2 cholesterol, α-tocopherol concentrations and the ratio of α-tocopherol/cholesterol were greater in the white vegetarian group than in the other groups. Total plasma cholesterol was associated with measures of truncal obesity, especially subscapular skinfold thickness and the percentage energy derived from saturated fatty acids. Plasma concentrations of apo(a) were higher and those of HDL and HDL 2 cholesterol and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were lower in the Indian vegetarian women compared with both groups of white women. No relationship could be found between apo(a), HDL and HDL 2 cholesterol concentration and nutrient intake but HDL and HDL 2 were negatively associated with the proportion of body fat and apo(a) weakly with subscapular skinfold thickness. This study underscores the importance of truncal obesity as a major factor influencing plasma lipoprotein concentrations in women.