The evidence for dietary prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

During the past few decades numerous studies have reported the atherogenic potential of saturated fatty acids; trans-fatty acids; and cholesterol; and beneficial effects of fiber; phytostanols/phytosterols; n-3 fatty acids; a Mediterranean diet; and other plant-based approaches. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the evidence associated with key […]

Vitamin E Consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease in women.

BACKGROUND. Interest in the antioxidant vitamin E as a possible protective nutrient against coronary disease has intensified with the recognition that oxidized low-density lipoprotein may be involved in atherogenesis. METHODS. In 1980; 87;245 female nurses 34 to 59 years of age who were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease and cancer completed dietary questionnaires that assessed […]

Consumption of prunes as a source of dietary fiber in men with mild hypercholesterolemia.

Forty-one free-living adult men with mild hypercholesterolemia (5.2-7.5 mmol/L) voluntarily participated in an 8-wk crossover study designed to determine the effect of prunes as a source of fiber on plasma cholesterol and on fecal output and bile acid concentration. During the prune period, subjects supplemented their usual diets with 12 prunes (100 g; 6 g dietary fiber) daily. Plasma low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower after the prune period (3.9 mmol/L) […]

Effect of an Indo-Mediterranean diet on progression of coronary artery disease in high-risk patients (Indo-Mediterranean Diet Heart Study): a randomized single-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: The rapid emergence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in south Asian people is not explained by conventional risk factors. In view of cardioprotective effects of a Mediterranean style diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid; we assessed the benefits of this diet for patients at high risk of CAD. METHODS: We did a randomised; single-blind trial […]

An Indian experiment with nutritional modulation in acute myocardial infarction

In a randomized; single-blind intervention trial; 406 patients 24 to 48 hours after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were assigned to either diet A (204 patients; group A) or B (202 patients; group B) for 6 weeks. At entry to the study; mean age; male sex; risk factors; complications; possible and definite AMI; and drug therapy […]

Nuts and plasma lipids: an almond-based diet lowers LDL-C while preserving HDL-C.

OBJECTIVE: To compare lipid-altering effects of an almond-based diet with an olive oil-based diet; against a cheese and butter-based control diet. METHODS: Forty-five free-living hyperlipidemic men (n = 12) and women (n = 33) with a mean plasma total cholesterol (TC) of 251 +/- 30 mg/dL followed one of three diets; almond-based; olive oil-based; or […]