Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #37727
Title: EFFICACY OF NATIONAL CHOLESTEROL EDUCATION STEP 2 DIETS IN NORMAL AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC MIDDLE-AGED AND ELDERLY MEN AND WOMEN

Author
item SCHAEFER ERNST J - TUFTS-HNRCA
item LAMON-FAVA STFAN - TUFTS-HNRCA
item CONTOIS JOHN H - TUFTS-HNRCA
item LI ZHENGLING - TUFTS-HNRCA
item GOLDIN BARRY R - TUFTS UNIVERSITY
item RASMUSSEN HELEN - TUFTS-HNRCA
item MCNAMARA JUDITH - TUFTS-HNRCA
item ORDOVAS JOSE M - TUFTS-HNRCA
item LICHTENSTEIN ALI - TUFTS-HNRCA

Submitted to: Arteriosclerosis and Thrombosis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Several organizations have recommended a restriction of dietary fat for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in both the general population and in patients with elevated blood cholesterol levels. We studied the effects on plasma cholesterol levels of a diet recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program Panel, containing less than 30% of calories as fat, less than 7% of total calories as saturated fat, and less than 200 mg/day of dietary cholesterol. Two diets were prepared with these characteristics, one relatively high in fish, and the other relatively high in chicken or turkey (poultry). Relative to the average American diet (which contains 36% of calories as fat and 14% of calories as saturated fat) both the fish and poultry diets decreased plasma levels of cholesterol (14-19%), LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol", 15-20%). However, HDL cholesterol levels ("good cholesterol") were decreased as well by these diets (11-17%). However, the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and lipoprotein (a) were not affected by these diets. This study indicates that lowering the fat and saturated fat content in the diet is effective in reducing LDL cholesterol levels without changing the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio.

Technical Abstract: Twenty-two normocholesterolemic men and women were first placed on a baseline diet similar to the average American diet (35% fat, 14% saturated fat, 147 mg/1000 kcal cholesterol) for 6 weeks and then on a National Cholesterol Education Program Step 2 diet either enriched in fish (Step 2-fish) or enriched in poultry (Step 2-poultry) for 24 weeks. In addition, 21 hypercholesterolemic men and women were placed on a base- line diet for 6 weeks and then on a Step 2-poultry diet for 6 weeks. Consumption of both Step 2 diets in all 43 subjects was associated with decreases in plasma total cholesterol (14-19%), LDL cholesterol (15-20%), and HDL cholesterol levels (11-17%). However, the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was not affected by the diets. Plasma triglyceride and lipoprotein (a) levels did not change with the diet. Our results indicate that Step 2 diets are effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels without affecting the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio.