Reduction of global cardiovascular risk with nutritional versus nutritional plus physical activity intervention in Colombian adults.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity/mortality in non-developed countries. Reports of the effects of non-pharmacological interventions on global cardiovascular risk in Latin American adults, however, are scarce.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the change in global cardiovascular risk induced by a tailored, Adult Treatment Panel-III compliant nutrition program versus the same program with addition of supervised, regular physical activity in Colombian adults.


METHODS
The study was a randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Seventy-five Colombian patients aged 40-70 years and with Framingham-estimated global cardiovascular risk of 1% or higher were randomly assigned to a nutritional intervention program or a combined nutritional intervention-physical exercise program for 16 weeks. Patients underwent medical and anthropometric evaluation, bioelectrical impedance, lipid profile and Framingham global cardiovascular risk determination at baseline and at the end of follow-up.


RESULTS
The groups were comparable at baseline; 21 persons in the nutritional intervention program group and 27 in the nutritional intervention-physical exercise program group completed the follow-up. Global cardiovascular risk modification (mean+/-SE) was -2.04+/-1.1 absolute percentage points (relative reduction 19.6%) in the nutritional intervention-physical exercise program group, compared with 0.23+/-0.9 (relative increase 2.8%) in the nutritional intervention program group. Mean difference in global cardiovascular risk modification between groups reached borderline statistical significance in ANCOVA (P=0.054). Reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were similar, but the nutritional intervention-physical exercise program group achieved significantly greater improvements in body weight, body mass index, percentage body fat and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that a structured nutritional intervention-physical exercise program is more efficacious than a nutritional intervention program in the reduction of global cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular risk factors, in only 16 weeks.
Mendivil
Carlos Olimpo
CO
Lipids and Diabetes Division, Physiological Sciences Department, National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. comendivila@unal.edu.co
Cortés
Edgar
E
Sierra
Iván Darío
ID
Ramírez
Andrea
A
Molano
Luz Milena
LM
Tovar
Luz Everlyn
LE
Vargas
Carolina
C
Granados
Nancy
N
Pérez
Clara Eugenia
CE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008055:Lipids