Re: Is the diet heart hypothesis really still alive.

tonyzsims@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
: On 29 Apr, 19:36, "Juhana Harju" <n...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
:: tonyzs...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
::
::: I have recently been reading The Colesterol Myths in which Dr Uffe
::: Ravnskov sets out to demonstrate that thediet-hearthypothesisis not
::: sustainable. He supports his conclusions with a meticulous analysis
::: of a large number of cited studies and reviews. His demolition of
::: the Seven Countries Study is, to my mind, totally credible.
:::
::: Although Dr Ravnskov seems to have covered everything of importance
::: on this vast subject I am wondering whether there are any studies or
::: reviews (major or otherwise) that can convincingly demonstrate the
::: following:
:::
::: (1) that high fat diets are associated with high levels of blood
::: cholesterol.
::
:: The quality of dietary fats is important, not the amount.
::
::: (2) that high levels of blood cholesterol are associated with high
::: levels of CHD.
::
:: Ravnskov often speaks about cholesterol (meaning serum total
:: cholesterol). That is outdated as total cholesterol is not a very
:: good predictor ofheart disease. Cholesterol ratios (total
:: cholesterol to HDL) should be used instead. Triglyserides are also
:: important particularly in overweight people.
::
::: Without this evidence thehypothesisis dead. I should say that I am
::: not seeking to be controversial but write as an elderly non
::: scientist withheartproblems, who genuinely wants to know what the
::: score is.
::
:: Take a look at LyonDietHeartTrial. That is a study where a
:: modificated Mediterraneandietwas compared with adietrecommended by
:: AmericanHeart Association. Patients following the
:: Mediterraneandiethad *70 percent* reducedheartdisease and total
:: mortality. In the Mediterraneandietthe subjects were adviced to
:: replace saturated fats with olive oil, canola oil and with a rape
:: seed oil based margarine. They were suggested to do some
:: otherdietchanges as well. The subjects in the Mediterraneandietgroup
:: were observed to have higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, more
:: oleic acid and higher levels of antioxidants than subjects in the
:: control group.
::
:: I don't think that thediethearthypothesisis dead, quite the contrary.
:: The evidence is accumulating. Increase the intake of omega-3 fatty
:: acids. Use cold pressed and virgin vegetable oils - olive oil and
:: canola/rape seed oil are good choices. Cut the refined
:: carbohydrates. Avoid trans fats very strictly. Cut saturated fats.
:: Eat some whole grains. Favour fatty fish and vegetarian protein
:: sources. Eat less red meat. Do not forget nuts. Eat more vegetables,
:: fruits and berries. Green vegetables are important. Pomegranates are
:: terrific.
::
: Thank you Juhana for drawing my attention to the Lyon study. I did
: post a reply to you but my lack of cyber competence seems to have sent
: it out of sight. Sorry for that. However the 70% reduction that is
: generally accepted is a pretyy compelling argument in favour of the
: diet hear hypothesis. I had difficulty, however, in locating the
: figure for actual deaths and actual cardiac events: different figures
: are quoted in different abstracts. One set of figures for cardiac
: deaths and myodcardial infarctions in the treatment group is 14, and
: inm the control group:44. I take this to be the basis for the quoted
: 70% reduction ( relative terms). In absolute terms the difference is
: 9% (13.1%-4.1%) - not nearly so impressive as 70%, but neverhteless
: impressive. I shall be doing some further digging about on this
: subject but you may wish to comment on:
:
: (1) are there any other studies that replicate and confirm the
: findings of the Lyon study.

There are other studies of Mediterranean diets, and the benefits of the
Mediterranean diet have been replicated in other countries and populations
as well.

: (2) If the findings of the Lyon study are so compelling how did
: statins ever achieve the degree of medical consensus that they have at
: the moment?

There are number of reasons. First, I have heard that very few cardiologists
are actually aware of the impressive results of the Lyon Diet Heart Trial.
In addition, physicians get very little education in nutritional sciences in
medical schools, and so they are not well prepared to treat patients by life
style changes. Also many patients themselves do not consider diet changes as
a real treatment - patients expect to get a drug prescription instead. And
finally there are compliance issues although they are not very difficult in
this case because Mediterranean diets are very easy to follow.

--
Juhana

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: high cholesterol and use of flax seeds or other foods
    ... ::: It is the soluble fiber which is important in reducing cholesterol. ... Perhaps you problem is that it is too low in fat. ... ::: Inclunding unsaturated fats to diet would lower cholesterol. ... ::: cooking and rape seed oil in salads. ...
    (sci.med.nutrition)
  • Re: Is the diet heart hypothesis really still alive.
    ... that high levels of blood cholesterol are associated with high ... That is outdated as total cholesterol is not a very good predictor of heart ... Mediterranean diet was compared with a diet recommended by American Heart ... subjects were adviced to replace saturated fats with olive oil, ...
    (sci.med.cardiology)
  • Re: high cholesterol and use of flax seeds or other foods
    ... > Nuts are very heart healthy and it is important to include them to diet. ... > It is the soluble fiber which is important in reducing cholesterol. ... Use olive oil in cooking and rape seed oil in salads. ... MONOUNSATURATED FAT than any other oil except OLIVE OIL. ...
    (sci.med.nutrition)
  • Re: Tell me what is wrong with this "study."
    ... > POLY/MONO BALANCE IMPORTANT TO CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DIET ... > PUFA-rich sunflower oil and the more MUFA-rich olive oil, ... > compared in a diet designed to lower blood cholesterol levels. ... groups and has research support from the food industry." ...
    (sci.med.nutrition)
  • Re: Lipids, Carbs, Statins and all that.
    ... Opinions do differ as to whether fish oil alters the risk of further ... Does fish oil ADD to statin therapy? ... a high omega-3 intake from diet, usually ranging from 1800-3000 mg per day) ... can show dramatic drops in HDL cholesterol. ...
    (alt.support.diabetes)
Loading