Lipid Levels and “Affluent” Diets

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Abstract
There is a simple explanation for the finding of McMurry et al. (Dec. 12 issue)1 that the serum lipid levels of 13 Mexican Indians rose when they were fed an affluent, U.S.-style diet. The subjects gained an average of 3.7 kg (8 lb) during the 21 to 36 days of the trial. We found that men regularly had an increase in cholesterol and serum lipoprotein levels when they were fed so that they would gain weight.2 Conversely, when they lost weight, their serum lipid levels fell. We then showed that healthy young men could double their food intake and still not have an increase in their serum lipid levels as long as they were active enough to burn off the excess calories and avoid weight gain.3 The critical determinant is energy balance.