Predictive value of a short dietary questionnaire for changes in serum lipids in high-risk Utah families

Dietary questionnaires and serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol determinations were completed for 1239 subjects aged greater than or equal to 20 at each of two separate screenings. The mean time between screenings was 2.5 y. After correcting for potential confounding variables, reduction of a measure of dietary cholesterol and saturated fatty acids assessed by two simple questions was a significant independent predictor of reduction in total cholesterol in serum (p less than 0.005). Initial body mass index (BMI) and change in BMI were highly significant predictors of initial values and changes in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol in serum. Reduction of dietary saturated fatty acid and cholesterol was significantly correlated with initial serum cholesterol levels, which suggest that serum cholesterol screening may be an important motivating factor for dietary change. Important public health and research implications of these findings are discussed.