title: Effects of lifestyle interventions on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
abstract: This review summarizes intervention studies that evaluated the effects of lifestyle behaviors on high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Current diet and lifestyle recommendations beneficially affect HDL-C. Individual lifestyle interventions that increase HDL-C include: a healthful diet that is low (7-10% of calories) in saturated fat and sufficient in unsaturated fat (15-20% of calories), regular physical activity, attaining a healthy weight, with moderate alcohol consumption, and cessation of cigarette smoking. Combining a healthy diet with weight loss and physical activity can increase HDL-C 10% to 13%. When combined with interventions that beneficially affect other cardiovascular disease risk factors, this increase in HDL-C is expected to contribute to a overall reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, S-126 Henderson Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Roussell
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kris-Etherton