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Dietary changes take two years to reduce heart attack risk
ArticleCopyright ArticleGrants
: Biomed Central Ltd
ArticleHistory : RegistrationDate : 2001–10–17 Received : 2001–1–19
Joanna Lyford,Aff1
Corresponding Affiliation: Aff1
Cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol, diet
Context
Introduction This study aimed to determine the effects of modifying dietary fat intake on the incidence of cardiovascular events.
Significant findings
Results
Alteration of dietary fat intake had little effect on total mortality (rate ratio [RR] = 0.98; 95%
confidence interval [CI] 0.86-1.12). Cardiovascular mortality was reduced by 9% (RR = 0.91; 95% CI
0.77-1.07) and cardiovascular events by 16% (RR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.72 - 0.99), which was attenuated
(RR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.72-1.03) in a sensitivity analysis that excluded a trial using oily fish. Trials with
at least two years' follow up provided stronger evidence of protection from cardiovascular events (RR
0.76; 95% CI 0.65-0.90).
Comments
Discussion
The authors point out that the answers presented by the trial are "not definitive", as the data are "too
sparse to be convincing". But their data are broadly in line with the benefits that might be expected from
modest lowering of cholesterol, and certainly provide support, at an individual if not an epidemiological
level, for the central role of dietary fat intake in the causation of CV disease. "We are left with a
suggestion that less total fat or less of any individual fatty acid fraction in the diet is beneficial."
Methods
The authors searched Medline and other bibliographic databases to identify randomized,
placebocontrolled trials that examined the effect of reduction or modification of dietary fat intake. Twenty seven
trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and were included in their meta-analysis. This resulted in a total of
27 studies, comprising 30,902 person years of observation, being included in the meta-analysis.
Additional information
This PDF file was created after publication.
1. Hooper L , Summerbell CD , Higgins JPT , Thompson RL , Capps NE , Smith GD , Riemersma RA , Ebrahim S : Dietary fat intake and prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review . BMJ . 2001 , 322 : 757 - 763 . (...truncated)