Dietary fat intake, serum lipid profiles and homocysteine concentration of saudi adult males in riyadh region – Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Several studies reported prevalence of hyperlipidemia among Saudis as a leading cause of cardiovascular disease.

However, limited data is available in dietary fat intakes and their relation to blood lipid profiles among healthy Saudis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary intake of total fat and its components and their relation to body mass index (BMI) and serum concentrations of lipid profiles as well as evaluation of serum total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration.

The samples of 227 healthy Saudi adult males were recruited in Riyadh region.

Dietary fat intakes were measured by analyzing food records.

Serum concentrations of lipid profiles and homocysteine were determined.

Results showed high intakes of total fat, saturated fat, unsaturated fat and cholesterol as mean as (88.2±29.3 g, 30.3 ± 12.6 g, 53.6±16.1 g and 135 ± 382.0mg / day, respectively).

This resulted in prevalence of overweight and obesity (about 60% of participants) as well as high serum concentrations of triglycerides (T.G.) (1.77 ± 0.23 mmol / L) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (3.38 ± 0.49 mmol / L).

Serum total cholesterol (T.C.) concentration was elevated to a lesser extent (4.98 ± 0.90 mmol / L) due to higher percentage of unsaturated fat vs.

Saturated fat intake.

Serum tHcy concentration (11.69 ± 2.04 µmol / L) was within normal range.

Results of this study indicated that high fat intake was a leading cause of obesity and hyperlipidemia which can explain prevalence of cardiovascular disease among Saudis.

This study also suggested that hyperlipidemia and not hyperhomocysteinemia was the nutritional cause of cardiovascular disease among Saudis.

Increasing nutritional awareness among Saudis is needed to reduce dietary fat intake.