Don Wiss wrote:

> Ken Stuart wrote:
>
>> In the article referenced in the thread "Paleo Article",
>> it seems clear that Cordain still seems to have not read
>> "The Cholesterol Myths" by Uffe Ravnskov, nor even read
>> the summary at http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm .
>
> I forwarded the above to Loren. He replied:
>
> You can go to my website: www.thepaleodiet.com under FAQ
> and read about the molecular basis on how saturated fats
> promote atherosclerosis by down regulating the LDL
> receptor.  The nobel prize in medicine was awarded to
> Brown and Goldstein for this discovery.  Apparently
> Ravnskov is unaware of this information.  Atherosclerosis
> is routinely induced in primate models
> by feeding increased saturated fat.  Also, high saturated
> fat feeding in humans increases plaque formation as
> measured by Doppler evaluation of the carotid artery.

Loren seems to be saying this with conviction, which is funny because
on this list a couple of years ago he admitted not really knowing, but
that more information was needed. Actually, his admission quoted below
seems to contradict his statement quoted above! I'll assume there have
been no new revelations from studies, or we would have heard about
them. Here's the question followed by Loren's answer:

(13) To what extent to you think the level of small-dense LDL
cholesterol explains the "badness" of LDL? This is relevant to
the paleo diet because small-dense LDL is strongly correlated
with triglycerides. On some conceptions of paleo diet, a more
Atkins-like approach is taken: liberal saturated fat, very low
carb. The result is often somewhat elevated LDL, but very low
triglycerides. The low triglycerides probably indicate low
levels of small-dense particles in the LDL fraction. This is why
the Eades are not concerned about increases in LDL on their plan
(for example). What is your take on this?

   Excellent point.  We need more information to determine if
very low carbohydrate, high fat diets reduce small dense LDL in
all people or only in certain genetically predisposed people ala
the multiple studies done by Dreon et al.   Further it will be
necessary to determine whether or not the total increase in LDL
(even with a concomitant decrease in small dense LDL) still
accelerates the atherosclerotic process.  It seems most likely
that small dense LDL are derived from triacylglycerols carried
in the VLDL fraction, hence the possilbility looms that a major
determinant of atherosclerosis is the ratio of total LDL/small
dense LDL.  To my mind, the evidence points to the notion that
atherosclerosis results from many environmental factors
including those dietary elements that simultaneously raise LDL
(high saturated fat diets) and TG (high glycemic load diets).
Both of these dietary characteristics could not have been part
of any Paleolithic Diet.

Thank you all for some very, very good questions!
Cordially,
Loren


Hilary McClure
Danville, Vermont