Nutrition and mortality: the Finnish experience

This paper reviews the Finnish experience concerning nutrition and mortality. In the early 70's major activities were started to change national nutritional habits, particularly in view of reducing the high mortality of cardiovascular diseases. At the same time a comprehensive monitoring system was developed. During the period from 1972 to 1997 major changes took place in national nutrition, in accordance with the set objectives. Associated with this, major reduction was observed in national CVD mortality. The Finnish experience gives great support to the hypothesis that population rates of cardiovascular diseases can be substantially influenced by changes in people's dietary habits.