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Diet modification in lowering plasma cholesterol levels. A randomised trial of three types of intervention
H J Johnston1, M Jones, G Ridler-Dutton
1Hypertension Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
Objective:
To compare the efficacy of three types of diet and lifestyle interventions for lowering plasma lipid levels.
Design:
Randomised parallel-group trial.
Subjects And Setting:
Adults with plasma cholesterol levels of 5.5-8.0 mmol/L attending two Sydney community health screening clinics were asked to participate: 179 agreed and 131 completed the study.
Interventions:
A pamphlet with brief advice; group dietary counselling; or individual counselling. Counselling included three sessions with a dietitian/nutritionist over six months.
Main Outcome Measures:
Plasma total cholesterol levels measured by Reflotron analyser; fasting serum lipid levels measured by standard laboratory methods; and calculated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Results:
Significantly lower plasma total cholesterol levels (Reflotron) were observed at two months and at six months with each of the three interventions. Additionally, both types of dietitian-based counselling resulted in small but significant decreases in plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at six months in a subset of subjects.
Conclusion:
Although there were no statistically significant differences in efficacy between the three types of intervention, dietitians have a role to play in setting up such counselling programs.