[Dietary advice in hyperlipidemia. A challenge for the health care service]

We propose practical dietary advice for patients with hyperlipidemias, based on data obtained from new results in epidemiology, clinical trials and laboratory experiments. We suggest a schedule for obtaining reliable data on dietary habits, to be used as a basis for advice to the individual patient. If the dietary fat intake can be reduced from about 40% to 25% of the total energy it is possible to achieve an average reduction in serum cholesterol of 10-20%. It is very important that doctors and other health personnel become involved in providing dietary advice in connection with treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease.