Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1966, Page 64

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Effect of dietary whale fat in serum cholesterol levels
Table No. II
Control Group Experiment Group
Females Males Females Males
mg p.c. Range mg p.c. Range mg p.c. Range mg p.c. Range
Start 240 175-290 250 190-291 235 170-285 255 180-290
3 months interwal 210 168-245 258 187-300 120 110-210 112 136-215
6 months final 254 172-295 264 165-278 135 115-215 130 115-220
Table No. II gives the serum total cholesterol concentration
at the beginning, at three months interval, and at the end of
the experiment. The differences are significant and they are
consistent between the two intervals.
Discussion.
The aim of the investigation was to see whether a diet rich
in whale fat would maintain lower levels of cholesterol in
the serum. There can be no doubt that it does so. It is the
intention of the author to continue the trial for longer period
with more subjects, with the ultimate aim to compare the
frequency of vascular and cardiac diseases in these two groups.
This study has confirmed observations previously made that
the serum cholesterol can be lowered and kept low by the
ingestion of certain fats (Beveridge et al. 1956, Malmros and
Wigand 1957).
Though it is clearly established that the whale fat can
partially control the level of serum oholesterol, the beneficial
effect on the development and regression of atherosclerosis
remains to be proved.