Improvements in hostility and depression in relation to dietary change and cholesterol lowering. The Family Heart Study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe changes in negative emotions among participants of a cholesterol-lowering study.


METHODS
Cohort study. Quantitative evaluation of changes in negative emotions in relation to diet and plasma cholesterol levels before and after a 5-year dietary intervention program aimed at reducing plasma cholesterol levels.


METHODS
Community-dwelling families of the Family Heart Study, Portland, Oregon.


METHODS
One hundred forty-nine men and 156 women from 233 families (mean age, 37.7 years).


METHODS
Changes in negative emotions including depression and aggressive hostility as measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-90).


RESULTS
Improvement in overall emotional state was noted for the entire sample. Those who consumed a low-fat, high complex-carbohydrate diet at the end of the study showed significantly greater improvements in depression (P = 0.044; difference in improvement, 2.9 points) and aggressive hostility (P = 0.035; difference in improvement, 3.3 points) as well as a reduction in their plasma cholesterol levels (P = 0.024; difference in improvement, 2.7%) compared with those who ate a high-fat "American diet."


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in a cholesterol-lowering program may not be associated with a worsening in emotional state. To the contrary, improvements in diet appear to be associated with reductions in depression and aggressive hostility as well as with lowered plasma cholesterol levels.
Weidner
G
G
Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-2500.
Connor
S L
SL
Hollis
J F
JF
Connor
W E
WE
D000328:Adult; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary