Dietary habits in Eastern Germany: changes after reunification and their relation to CHD risk profiles (DRECAN)

As part of the DREsden CArdiovascular risk and Nutrition study, 2038 participants, selected from a cohort of 3076 workers in the Dresden area, underwent a detailed nutritional analysis of the periods before and after German reunification. Although protein, fat, carbohydrate, and total calorie intake did not change in Dresden after reunification, polyunsaturated fat replaced 17% of the saturated fatty acids, dairy product intake tripled, and fruit intake increased by 70%. Relative to a reference PROCAM 'western' cohort, the 90th percentile of triglycerides was higher in middle-aged men, and the levels of total cholesterol and HDLC were higher in all males. Serum LDLC levels in males and females were similar. Serum lipid concentrations and the prevalence of hyperlipidemia were similar to those of the PROCAM cohort, but smoking was less common. In young males and females, body mass index was higher; hypertension was more frequent. We assume that the differences in nutrition and risk profile before reunification were less substantial than commonly believed.