Giessen Wholesome Nutrition Study: relation between a health-conscious diet and blood lipids.
OBJECTIVE
To study in humans the relationship between a diet consistent with most of the current recommendations for the prevention of nutrition-related diseases (Wholesome Nutrition) and the blood lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL-ratio, triglycerides).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with two diet groups.


METHODS
Former West Germany.


METHODS
Healthy women (n=243, aged 25-65 y) adhering to Wholesome Nutrition for at least 5 y (subdivided into 111 ovo-lacto vegetarians and 132 low-meat eaters) and an according control group of 175 women eating an average German mixed diet. They were all recruited through an advertisement campaign and selected on the basis of their food consumption.


RESULTS
Considering potential confounders, the Wholesome Nutrition subgroups had higher HDL-cholesterol levels than the control group. No differences were observed for total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. For LDL/HDL-ratio and triglycerides the effect of diet was dependent on interaction terms. With increasing risk factors (age or body mass index (BMI)) the Wholesome Nutrition subgroups showed more favourable blood lipids.


CONCLUSIONS
Women eating a preventive diet on a long-term basis exhibit more favourable blood lipid profiles than women consuming an average mixed diet. This is particularly obvious for HDL-cholesterol in the presence of certain risk factors and when an ovo-lacto vegetarian version is practised.


BACKGROUND
Eden Foundation, Bad Soden, Germany.
Hoffmann
I
I
Institute of Nutrition Science, University of Giessen, Germany.
Groeneveld
M J
MJ
Boeing
H
H
Koebnick
C
C
Golf
S
S
Katz
N
N
Leitzmann
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides