Does not Raise Serum Triglycerides

Nutritional research studies have observed that switching from the typical Western diet to a diet lower in fat, and higher in carbohydrates mostly in their refined, fiber-free or low-fiber form, raises serum triglycerides. High triglyceride levels are being recognized as a risk factor for heart disease.

In this study the impact on triglycerides of a low fat, high carbohydrate diet rich in whole-grain raisin bread and sun-dried raisins was studied.

Fifteen men and women with normal and high blood cholesterol and triglycerides followed a typical Western diet for three weeks. After this baseline period, they switched to a low fat, high carbohydrate diet supplemented daily with significant amounts of whole-grain raisin bread and sun-dried raisins for 13 weeks. Compared to the baseline diet, the study diet was lower in calories and fat and higher in carbohydrates and more than double in fiber.

Following the study diet triglycerides decreased by 19%, though this was not statistically significant. Although the small number of subjects may have prevented the results from reaching statistical significance, the decreasing trend and the absence of an increase in triglyceride suggest that the study diet had a beneficial effect on triglyceride levels in the blood.

Carbohydrates rich in fiber and phytochemicals, such as sun-dried raisins and whole-grain raisin bread, do not have a triglyceride-raising effect as is often seen when foods high in refined sugar and white flour are a major part of the diet.

Spiller GA and Bruce B. Regular consumption of high fiber carbohydrate foods such as sun-dried raisins and whole grain breads does not raise serum triglycerides. Presented at the Society for Experimental Biology Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 1998. FASEB J 12(5):A654, 1998 (Abstract 3803).

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