Effect of diet intervention on long-term mortality in healthy middle-aged men with combined hyperlipidaemia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to study the effect of a 5-year diet intervention on 24-year mortality in middle aged men with combined hyperlipidaemia.


METHODS
We studied 104 initially healthy men (in 1972) aged 40-49 years with baseline values of total serum cholesterol >6.45 mmol L-1 and fasting triglycerides >2.55 mmol L-1, within the randomized diet and smoking cessation trial of the Oslo study (n = 1232).


METHODS
The participants were randomized to a 5-year diet intervention or a control group. The diet consisted of a traditional lipid-lowering diet with emphasis on reduction of saturated fat, total caloric intake and body weight. The groups were initially well balanced with regard to traditional risk factors for mortality.


RESULTS
Thirty-three subjects died during the 24-year observation period [17 of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 12 of cancer]. In the diet intervention group, mortality was 51% lower (RR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.22-0.91, P = 0.022) as compared with the control group. This difference remained significant in a Cox regression analysis after adjusting for age and smoking status (RR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.96, P = 0.038).


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that the investigated 5-year diet intervention significantly reduces late mortality in healthy middle-aged men with combined hyperlipidaemia.
Hjerkinn
E M
EM
Research Forum, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. elsa.hjerkinn@ulleval.no
Sandvik
L
L
Hjermann
I
I
Arnesen
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000401:mortality; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol