Efforts to decrease the levels of cholesterol through cholesterol lowering diets have had only modest effects so far. In an attempt to increase the efficacy of cholesterol lowering diets in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, the Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program has recommended adding plant sterols and viscous fibers to the diet. Soy proteins and nuts may have additional health benefits.

Potential of already existing cholesterol lowering diets was measured by professionals at the institute. Trying to improve the efficiency of cholesterol lowering diets, an experiment was also conducted.

Forty-six healthy adults with hyperlipidemia completed the four-week study. All participants followed their own diet that was low in saturated fat for one month before the start of the study. They were then randomized into one of the following groups: a cholesterol lowering diet containing mostly low-saturated-fat diet without a statin; the same cholesterol lowering diet with a statin; or a similar cholesterol lowering diet with added viscous fibers, plant sterols, soy foods, and almonds. Weight, blood pressure, and menu checklists were reviewed at regular intervals.

All cholesterol lowering diets were vegetarian, and the intervention diet containing soy foods, viscous fiber, plant sterols, and almonds also included eggs and butter to balance the saturated fat and dietary cholesterol content of the control (non-statin) diet. Compliance with the prescribed cholesterol lowering diets was at least 93 percent in all three groups, and all participants reported adequate satiety.

After four weeks, the control group lowered their LDL-C by 8 percent, increased the LDL-C to HDL-C ratio by 3 percent, and lowered the C-reactive protein level by 10 percent. The reductions in blood lipid levels in the statin and dietary intervention groups were significantly greater than were the changes in the control group, proving the efficiency of appropriate cholesterol lowering diets. Similarly, C-reactive protein levels were significantly lower in both the intervention-diet group and the statin group than in the control group.

The authors conclude that cholesterol lowering diets alone, if selecting for foods with cholesterol lowering properties, can lower cholesterol as well as statins.

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