Serum lipids, apoproteins and nutrient intake in rural Cretan boys consuming high-olive-oil diets

A high intake of olive oil has produced high levels of high-density and low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in short-term dietary trials. To investigate long-term effects of olive oil we have studied the diet and serum lipids of boys in Crete, where a high olive oil consumption is the norm. Seventy-six healthy rural Cretan boys aged 7–9 years were studied. The diet was assessed by a 2-day dietary recall. Blood was collected according to a standardized protocol and sera were analyzed in a rigidly standardized laboratory. The mean daily intake of energy was 11.0 MJ (2629 kcal). The intake of fat (45.0% of energy) and oleic acid (27.2% of energy) was high, and that of saturated fat low (10.0% of energy), reflecting a high consumption of olive oil. The high consumption of olive oil was confirmed by a high proportion of oleic-acid (27.1 %) in serum cholesteryl fatty acids. Mean concentration of serum total cholesterol was 4.42 mmol 1−1 (171 mg dl−1 ), of HDL-cholesterol 1.40 mmol 1−1 (54 mg dl−1), of serum triglycerides 0.59 mmol I−1 (52 mg dl−1 ), of apo-A1 1210 mg 1−1 and of LDL apo-B 798 mg 1−1. The body mass index of the Cretan boys (18.2 kg m−2) was on average 2 kg m−2 higher than that of boys from other countries. Contrary to our expectation, the Cretan boys did not show a more favourable serum lipoprotein pattern than boys from more westernized countries studied previously using the same protocol. Our hypothesis that a typical, olive-oil-rich Cretan diet causes a relatively high HDL- to total cholesterol ratio is not supported by the present findings

David Ayman, MD: An Early Investigator of Clinical Hypertension

Dr. David Ayman (1901-1986) was an astute clinician and observer who challenged medical dogma by performing placebo-controlled studies and by meticulous measurement of blood pressure under standardized conditions. He demonstrated that almost all drugs reported to have an antihypertensive effect in the early 20th century had achieved nothing more than placebo response. He noted the marked variability of blood pressure and devised methods to reduce that variability. These observations led to his publications concerning what is now known as "white coat" or office hypertension. He determined blood pressure personally in 1524 members of 277 families over three generations and made observations on the hereditary nature of hypertension that countered the single-gene thinking of the day. His work is proof that clinical inquisitiveness, hard work, and the courage to challenge conventional wisdom can result in significant contributions to medicine and science