Cottonseed Oil Dose Response

Cardiovascular disease risk factors, including higher BMIs and poor cholesterol profiles, are on the rise and contribute to the United States' growing disease burden. Cottonseed oil (CSO) is found readily in our food supply. Our previous studies have demonstrated that incorporating CSO into the diet is sufficient to reduce fasting total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and improve postprandial lipid and/or glycemic responses in both healthy and at-risk populations. However, in these human studies, diets provided 30-44% of total energy from CSO, which corresponded to high-fat (HF) diet intake (40-50% of energy). The impact of lower doses of CSO on human health has yet to be tested. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether lower doses of CSO are equally effective as previously proven high doses for improving fasting and postprandial lipid metabolism and markers of chronic disease risk. If lower doses of CSO in the diet are found to improve these markers, these study findings could lead to improvements in health.

This prospective clinical study is a single-blinded, randomized control trial in adults at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (poor cholesterol profiles or overweight/obesity). There are four diet interventions: CSO LOW (10% energy from CSO), CSO MID (20% energy from CSO), CSO HIGH (30% energy from CSO), and CON (10% energy from control oil mix). The study protocol consists of a 28-day intervention where participants are provided breakfast shakes and snacks that contain different amounts of cooking oil depending on their random group assignment.

There are a total of 6 testing visits: screening (v0), pre-intervention (v1), 3 weekly short visits (v2, v3, v4), and post-intervention (v5).

At screening (v0), qualification is confirmed based on anthropometrics and fasting blood draw, which is analyzed for a cholesterol panel and blood glucose. Additionally, energy requirements are estimated at this visit for use in the diet intervention.

At v1, participants will have anthropometrics measured, including body composition, by BodPod. Next, a certified phlebotomist places an IV catheter and takes the fasting blood sample. Then the participant consumes a high-saturated-fat meal challenge which delivers 35% of their estimated energy needs (from v0). Then the participant has blood drawn 8 times using the IV catheter over the next 5 hours.

28-day dietary intervention: Before leaving v1, participants are sent home with their first week's supply of daily shakes and snacks corresponding to their randomly assigned group. The ingredients for the breakfast shakes and snacks are identical between groups, the only difference being the amount of the assigned oil incorporated into the foods. All foods are portioned based on individual energy needs as estimated at v0.

Participants return weekly (v2, v3, v4) to return study materials and collect food for the next week. At these weekly visits, participants also have a fasting blood draw, body measures and consume their first breakfast shake of the week in the lab.

At the end of the 28-day dietary intervention, participants return for v5, where all procedures from v1 are repeated.

The investigators hypothesize that CSO LOW, CSO MID, and CSO HIGH will improve the proposed overall health outcomes and markers of chronic disease risk without changing inflammatory markers compared to the control group.

Inclusion criteria

• 25-75-year-old men and women at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Increased risk for cardiovascular disease will be defined by either elevated cholesterol profiles -or- overweight/obesity.
• Elevated cholesterol profiles will be defined as:
• "Borderline High" and/or "at risk" in two or more of the following variables (total cholesterol: 180-239 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol 110-159 mg/dL, triglycerides 130-199 mg/dL) --or---
• "High" in total cholesterol (240 mg/dL and higher), LDL (160 mg/dL or higher), or triglycerides (between 200 - 350 mg/dl).

Overweight/obesity will be defined by body mass index (overweight 25-29.9 kg/m2 or obesity 30 kg/m2 or greater).

Exclusion criteria

• Probable familial hypercholesterolemia, defined by: total cholesterol greater than 290 mg/dL or LDL levels greater than 190 mg/dL plus a family history of myocardial infarction (MI) before 50 years of age in a 2nd-degree relative or below age 60 in a 1st-degree relative.
• women on hormone replacement therapy for less than 2 years
• women who are pregnant
• individuals who regularly exercise more than 3 h/w
• weight gain or loss of more than 5% of their body weight in the past 3 months
• plans to begin a weight loss/exercise regimen during the trial
• history of medical or surgical events that could affect digestion or swallowing
• gastrointestinal surgeries, conditions or disorders,
• any chronic diseases (including moderate to severe asthma, chronic lung disease, and kidney disease),
• metabolic diseases
• atherosclerosis
• previous MI or stroke
• cancer
• fasting blood glucose levels greater than 126 mg/dL
• blood pressure greater than 180/120 mmHg
• medication use affecting digestion and absorption, metabolism (e.g., thyroid meds), lipid-lowering medications, medications for diabetes, steroid/hormone therapies, or current antibiotic cycles
• medically prescribed or special diets
• Food allergies (specific to the foods in the study, including wheat, dairy, and cottonseed oil)
• fish oil supplements,
• excessive alcohol use (greater than 3 drinks/d for men; greater than 2 drinks/d for women)
• tobacco or nicotine use
• underweight BMI (<18.5 kg/m2)