A diet that combines cholesterol-lowering foods may results in greater decreases in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels than a low-saturated fat diet, according to new research.
The study investigated whether consuming a diet consisting of foods
recognized to lower cholesterol achieved significantly greater
percentage decreases in LDL -cholesterol levels compared with a low-sat
fat control diet over a six month period.
The researchers reported that the use of the dietary portfolio of cholesterol lowering foods – which included foods such as plant sterols,
soy protein, viscous fibres, and nuts – resulted in greater
LDL-cholesterol lowering during the six month follow up, when compared
with the low saturated fat diet – which emphasized high fibre and whole
grains but lacked cholesterol lowering components.
«Our data demonstrate the cholesterol lowering potential of a dietar
portfolio intervention that counsels participants to increase
consumption of cholesterol lowering foods,» said the researchers.
«Our study also represents the first randomized trial to our knowledge
to assess the ability of an intervention that counsels for consumption
of these cholesterol-lowering foods to reduce LDL-cholesterol at 6-month
follow-up in real-world conditions», they added.
The researchers noted that combining foods with recognized
cholesterol-lowering properties in to a «dietary portfolio» has proven
effective in lowering serum cholesterol under controlled conditions.
In the new randomised controlled trial, 351 participants with
hyperlipidemia received dietary advice for six months on either a
low-saturated fat therapeutic diet (control) or a dietary portfolio that
emphasized dietary incorporation of plant sterols, soy protein, viscous fibres and nuts.
The researchers observed that the control diet led to reductions in LDL
cholesterol of 3% in a six month period, whilst the «portfolio diet»
containing foods to specifically lower cholesterol was found to reduce
LDL-cholesterol by 13%.
«This study indicated the potential value of using recognized
cholesterol-lowering foods in combination», concluded the researchers.
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Source: Nutraingredients