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Protocols

Category: Protocols (Poster Session)

Protocols (Poster Session)

(P42-35-26) Protocol: Stearic Acid-Rich Fats as an Alternative to Preserve Endothelial Function

Monday, July 27, 2026
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM ET
Location: Poster Board D-45
Disclosure(s):
William A. Mumby, B.S.: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Kevin C. Maki, PhD: 89Bio: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing)
ACH Food Companies: Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Bragg Live Food Products: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing)
Campbell's: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing)
Cargill: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Eli Lilly and Company: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Esperion Therapeutics: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
General Mills Inc.: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Global Organization for EPA and DHA: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Greenyn Biotechnology: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Hass Avocado Board: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Helaina: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Hershey: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Indiana University Foundation: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Lonza: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing)
Matinas Biopharma: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
MDLifespan: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Medifast, Inc.: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
National Cattlemen's Beef Association/Beef Checkoff: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
National Dairy Council: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Naturmega: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
NewAmsterdam Pharma: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
NorthSea Therapeutics: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing)
Novo Nordisk: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing); Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Pepsico: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Pharmavite: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Ro: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Seed, Inc.: Advisory Committee/Board Member (Ongoing); Consultant (Ongoing)
Andrea J. Lobene, PhD, RD, LD: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Diet is a key modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Most adults exceed the recommended intake of ≤10% of total daily energy (TDE) from saturated fatty acids (SFA). Atherogenic lipoproteins influence endothelium dysfunction, a key precursor for ASCVD. It remains unclear which individual fatty acids induce endothelial dysfunction, and which may benefit endothelial health. One SFA of interest is stearic acid, which has uniquely neutral effects on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, unlike most other SFA. More research is needed to examine the effects of stearic acid on cardiovascular (CV) health and develop more effective dietary recommendations and interventions for ASCVD. This innovative study is a randomized, double-blind, acute-within-chronic controlled feeding study designed to characterize the effect of dietary fatty acids on endothelial health.

Methods: Twenty adults (ages 40–70 y) with overweight or obesity (body mass index 25.0–40.0 kg/m2) will be recruited to undergo a baseline visit to assess fasting endothelial function via brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) before consuming a 2-week run-in diet high in palmitic acid. Participants will then be randomized to a high-stearic acid diet or a high-oleic acid diet. On day 1 of the diet, participants will complete a high-fat meal challenge (50 g stearic acid-rich fat or 50 g oleic acid-rich fat) to assess postprandial changes in FMD. Participants will then consume their assigned diet (35% TDE provided by assigned cooking fats) for 14 days. Menus will be planned using gold-standard software, and all foods will be prepared in a metabolic kitchen. Menus will be customized to meet participants’ calorie needs. On day 15, fasting FMD will be measured to compare the chronic effects of the two high-fat diets. A second high-fat meal challenge (50 g palm oil) will then be conducted to assess how usual fat intake affects postprandial changes in FMD in response to a meal high in SFA.

Results: The primary outcome of this study will focus on postprandial changes in FMD following a single meal, and secondary outcomes will look at changes in FMD with long-term consumption.

Conclusions: Results of this study will provide proof-of-concept evidence for the effects of stearic acid on CV health and potentially impact future dietary recommendations.

Funding Sources: None