A dietary portfolio approach to cholesterol reduction: combined effects of plant sterols; vegetable proteins and viscous fibers in hypercholesterolemia
Plant sterols; soy proteins; and viscous fibers are advised for cholesterol reduction but their combined effect has never been tested. We therefore assessed their combined effect on blood lipids in hyperlipidemic subjects who were already consuming a low-saturated fat; low-cholesterol diet before starting the study. The test (combination) diet was 1 month in duration and […]
Effect of a very-high-fiber vegetable; fruit; and nut diet on serum lipids and colonic function
We tested the effects of feeding a diet very high in fiber from fruit and vegetables. The levels fed were those; which had originally inspired the dietary fiber hypothesis related to colon cancer and heart disease prevention and also may have been eaten early in human evolution. Ten healthy volunteers each took 3 metabolic diets […]
Effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods vs. lovastatin on serum lipids and c-reactive protein.
CONTEXT: To enhance the effectiveness of diet in lowering cholesterol; recommendations of the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program emphasize diets low in saturated fat together with plant sterols and viscous fibers; and the American Heart Association supports the use of soy protein and nuts. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a diet […]
Direct comparison of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods with a statin in hypercholesterolemic partipants.
BACKGROUND: 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors reduce serum cholesterol and are increasingly advocated in primary prevention to achieve reductions in LDL cholesterol. Newer dietary approaches combining cholesterol-lowering foods may offer another option; but these approaches have not been compared directly with statins in the same persons. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare; in the same […]
Effect of a diet high in vegetables; fruit; and nuts on serum lipids
We assessed the effect of a diet high in leafy and green vegetables; fruit; and nuts on serum lipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Ten healthy volunteers (seven men and three women aged 33 +/- 4 years [mean +/- SEM]; body mass index; 23 +/- 1 kg/m2) consumed their habitual diet (control diet; 29% +/- […]
Almonds and postprandial glycemia – a dose-response study
Almonds; together with other nuts; reduce serum cholesterol levels and may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. There is much current interest in the relation of coronary heart disease to postprandial events. We have therefore assessed the effects of varying amounts of almonds on the postprandial blood glucose response to a carbohydrate meal. Our […]
Nuts and coronary heart disease: an epidemiological perspective.
The epidemiological evidence for the cardio-protective effect of nut consumption is presented and reviewed. Four large prospective epidemiological studies of primary prevention of coronary heart disease are reviewed and discussed (Adventist Health Study; Iowa Women's Health Study; Nurses' Health Study and the Physicians' Health Study). Other studies of nuts and coronary heart disease risk are […]
Effect of almond supplementation on eating patterns; and micronutrient and fatty acid intake profile in free-living healthy adults
Plant-based foods and prevention of cardiovascular disease: an overview.
Evidence from prospective cohort studies indicates that a high consumption of plant-based foods such as fruit and vegetables; nuts; and whole grains is associated with a significantly lower risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. The protective effects of these foods are probably mediated through multiple beneficial nutrients contained in these foods; including mono- and […]
Nut consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: a review of epidemiologic evidence
Traditionally nuts have been perceived as an unhealthy food because of their high fat content. However; recent accumulative evidence suggests that frequent consumption of nuts may be protective against coronary heart disease (CHD). So far; five large prospective cohort studies (the Adventist Health Study; the Iowa Women Health Study; the Nurses' Health Study; the Physicians' […]