Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Diet and Cardiovascular Disease

  • Lipid Abnormalities and Cardiovascular Prevention (G De Backer, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Cardiology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes the importance of diet in cardiovascular disease prevention. Different aspects of diet are discussed: nutrients, single foods/food groups and dietary patterns. The evidence regarding the impact of diet on intermediate risk factors (such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels) and the impact on cardiovascular endpoints are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Perk J, De Backer G, Gohlke H, Graham I, Reiner Z, Verschuren WMM, Albus C, Benlian C, Boysen G, Cifkova R, Deaton C, Ebrahim S, Fisher M, Germano G, Hobbs R, Hoes A, Karadeniz S, Mezzani A, Prescott E, Ryden L, Scherer M, Syvanne M, Scholte Op Reimer M, Vrints C, Wood D, Zamorano J, Zannad F. European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (version 2012). The Fifth Joint Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and Other Societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice. Eur Heart J. 2012;33(13):1635–701.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dreon DM, Fernstrom HA, Miller B, Krauss RM. Low-density lipoprotein subclass patterns and lipoprotein response to a reduced-fat diet in men. FASEB J. 1994;8:121–126.5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kasim-Karakas SE, Almario RU, Mueller WM, Peerson J. Changes in plasma lipoproteins during low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets: effects of energy intake. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71:1439–47.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Turley ML, Skeaff CM, Mann JI, Cox B. The effect of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet on serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1998;52:728–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Astrup A. The role of dietary fat in obesity. Semin Vasc Med. 2005;5:40–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bell EA, Castellanos VH, Pelkman CL, Thorwart ML, Rolls BJ. Energy density of foods affects energy intake in normal-weight women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998;67:412–20.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ledikwe JH, Blanck HM, Kettel KL, Serdula MK, Seymour JD, Tohill BC, Rolls BJ. Dietary energy density is associated with energy intake and weight status in US adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83:1362–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rolls BJ, Bell EA, Castellanos VH, Chow M, Pelkman CL, Thorwart ML. Energy density but not fat content of foods affected energy intake in lean and obese women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:863–71.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ball K, Hannington E, McAllen P, Pilkington T, Richards J, Sharland D, Sowry S, Wilkinson P, Clarke A, Murland C, Wood J. Low-fat diet in myocardial infarction. Lancet. 1965;2:501–4.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Burr ML, Fehily AM, Gilbert JF, Rogers S, Holliday RM, Sweetnam PM, Elwood PC, Deadman NM. Effects of changes in fat, fish, and fibre intakes on death and myocardial reinfarction: diet and reinfarction trial (DART). Lancet. 1989;2:757–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Howard BV, Van Horn L, Hsia J, Manson JE, Stefanick ML, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Kuller LH, LaCroix AZ, Langer RD, Lasser NL, Lewis CE, Limacher MC, Margolis KL, Mysiw WJ, Ockene JK, Parker LM, Perri MG, Phillips L, Prentice RL, Robbins J, Rossouw JE, Sarto GE, Schatz IJ, Snetselaar LG, Stevens VJ, Tinker LF, Trevisan M, Vitolins MZ, Anderson GL, Assaf AR, Bassford T, Beresford SA, Black HR, Brunner RL, Brzyski RG, Caan B, Chlebowski RT, Gass M, Granek I, Greenland P, Hays J, Heber D, Heiss G, Hendrix SL, Hubbell FA, Johnson KC, Kotchen JM. Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial. JAMA. 2006;295:655–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Keys A. Effects of Different Dietary Fats on Plasma-Lipid Levels. Lancet. 1965;1:318–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Clarke R, Frost C, Collins R, Appleby P, Peto R. Dietary lipids and blood cholesterol: quantitative meta-analysis of metabolic ward studies. BMJ. 1997;314:112–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mensink RP, Zock PL, Kester AD, Katan MB. Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on serum lipids and apolipoproteins: a meta-analysis of 60 controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77:1146–55.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hu FB, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, Rimm E, Colditz GA, Rosner BA, Hennekens CH, Willett WC. Dietary fat intake and the risk of coronary heart disease in women. N Engl J Med. 1997;337:1491–99.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Mensink RP, Katan MB. Effect of dietary fatty acids on serum lipids and lipoproteins. A meta-analysis of 27 trials. Arterioscler Thromb. 1992;12:911–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Hu FB, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, Ascherio A, Colditz GA, Speizer FE, Hennekens CH, Willett WC. Dietary saturated fats and their food sources in relation to the risk of coronary heart disease in women. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;70:1001–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Siri-Tarino PW, Sun Q, Hu FB, Krauss RM. Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:535–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Stamler J. Diet-heart: a problematic revisit. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91:497–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Astrup A, Dyerberg J, Elwood P, Hermansen K, Hu FB, Jakobsen MU, Kok FJ, Krauss RM, Lecerf JM, LeGrand P, Nestel P, Riserus U, Sanders T, Sinclair A, Stender S, Olstrup T, Willett WC. The role of reducing intakes of saturated fat in the prevention of cardiovascular disease: where does the evidence stand in 2010? Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;93:684–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Garg A. Treatment of diabetic dyslipidemia. Am J Cardiol. 1998;81:47B–51B.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kris-Etherton PM. AHA Science Advisory. Monounsaturated fatty acids and risk of cardiovascular disease. American Heart Association. Nutrition Committee. Circulation. 1999;100:1253–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Posner BM, Cobb JL, Belanger AJ, Cupples LA, D'Agostino RB, Stokes III J. Dietary lipid predictors of coronary heart disease in men. The Framingham Study. Arch Intern Med. 1991;151:1181–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, Colditz GA, Speizer FE, Rosner BA, Sampson LA, Hennekens CH. Intake of trans fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease among women. Lancet. 1993;341:581–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. He K, Song Y, Daviglus ML, Liu K, Van Horn L, Dyer AR, Greenland P. Accumulated evidence on fish consumption and coronary heart disease mortality: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Circulation. 2004;109:2705–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. He K, Song Y, Daviglus ML, Liu K, Van Horn L, Dyer AR, Goldbourt U, Greenland P. Fish consumption and incidence of stroke: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. Stroke. 2004;35:1538–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Mozaffarian D, Clarke R. Quantitative effects on cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease risk of replacing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils with other fats and oils. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63 Suppl 2:S22–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Mozaffarian D, Rimm EB. Fish intake, contaminants, and human health: evaluating the risks and the benefits. JAMA. 2006;296:1885–99.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Jakobsen MU, Bysted A, Andersen NL, Heitmann BL, Hartkopp HB, Leth T, Overvad K, Dyerberg J. Intake of ruminant trans fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease-an overview. Atheroscler Suppl. 2006;7:9–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Mozaffarian D. Commentary: Ruminant trans fatty acids and coronary heart disease–cause for concern? Int J Epidemiol. 2008;37:182–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. He FJ, MacGregor GA. Effect of modest salt reduction on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Implications for public health. J Hum Hypertens. 2002;16:761–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sacks FM, Svetkey LP, Vollmer WM, Appel LJ, Bray GA, Harsha D, Obarzanek E, Conlin PR, Miller ER, Simons-Morton 3rd DG, Karanja N, Lin PH. Effects on blood pressure of reduced dietary sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. DASH-Sodium Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:3–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. WHO. World Health Organization Technical Report Series. Joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. 2002. Report No.: Report No. 916. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/who_trs_916.pdf.

  34. Bibbins-Domingo K, Chertow GM, Coxson PG, Moran A, Lightwood JM, Pletcher MJ, Goldman L. Projected effect of dietary salt reductions on future cardiovascular disease. N Engl J Med. 2010;362:590–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. He FJ, MacGregor GA. Fortnightly review: Beneficial effects of potassium. BMJ. 2001;323:497–501.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Vivekananthan DP, Penn MS, Sapp SK, Hsu A, Topol EJ. Use of antioxidant vitamins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of randomised trials. Lancet. 2003;361:2017–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Boushey CJ, Beresford SA, Omenn GS, Motulsky AG. A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease: probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA. 1995;274(13):1049–57.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Marti-Carvajal AJ, Sola I, Lathyris D, Salanti G. Homocysteine lowering interventions for preventing cardiovascular events. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009:CD006612.

  39. Armitage JM, Bowman L, Clarke RJ, Wallendszus K, Bulbulia R, Rahimi K, Haynes R, Parish S, Sleight P, Peto R, Collins R. Effects of homocysteine-lowering with folic acid plus vitamin B12 vs placebo on mortality and major morbidity in myocardial infarction survivors: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2010;303:2486–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Galan P, Kesse-Guyot E, Czernichow S, Briancon S, Blacher J, Hercberg S. Effects of B vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids on cardiovascular diseases: a randomised placebo controlled trial. BMJ. 2010;341:c6273.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. VITATOPS Trial Study Group. B vitamins in patients with recent transient ischaemic attack or stroke in the VITAmins TO Prevent Stroke (VITATOPS) trial: a randomised, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol 2010;9:855-865.

    Google Scholar 

  42. M Abuannadi M JOK. Give me sunshine: vitamin D and cardiovascular health. Prim Care Cardiovasc J 2011;4:59-62.

  43. Weickert MO, Pfeiffer AF. Metabolic effects of dietary fiber consumption and prevention of diabetes. J Nutr. 2008;138:439–42.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Institute of Medicine. Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein and amino acids. 2002. Washington DC, National Academies Press.

  45. Dauchet L, Amouyel P, Hercberg S, Dallongeville J. Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Nutr. 2006;136:2588–93.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. He FJ, Nowson CA, MacGregor GA. Fruit and vegetable consumption and stroke: meta-analysis of cohort studies. Lancet. 2006;367:320–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, Vollmer WM, Svetkey LP, Sacks FM, Bray GA, Vogt TM, Cutler JA, Windhauser MM, Lin PH, Karanja N. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:1117–24.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kromhout D, Giltay EJ, Geleijnse JM. N-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular events after myocardial infarction. NEJM. 2010;363:2015–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Rauch B, Schiele R, Schneider S, et al. OMEGA, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to test the effect of highly purified omega-3 fatty acids on top of modern guideline-adjusted therapy after myocardial infarction. Circulation. 2010;122:2152–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Kromhout D, Yasuda S, Geleijnse JM, Shimokawa H. Fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease: do they really work? Eur Heart J. 2012;33:436–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Ronksley PE, Biren SU, Turner BJ, Mukamal KJ, Ghali WA Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2011;342:d671.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, Despres JP, Hu FB. Sugar-sweetened beverages, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease risk. Circulation. 2010;121:1356–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Fung TT, Malik V, Rexrode KM, Manson JE, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sweetened beverage consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1037–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Law M. Plant sterol and stanol margarines and health. BMJ. 2000;320:861–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Schonfeld G. Plant sterols in atherosclerosis prevention. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;92:3–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Verschuren WM, Jacobs DR, Bloemberg BP, Kromhout D, Menotti A, Aravanis C, Blackburn H, Buzina R, Dontas AS, Fidanza F, et al. Serum total cholesterol and long-term coronary heart disease mortality in different cultures. Twenty-five-year follow-up of the seven countries study. JAMA. 1995;274:131–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Sofi F, Abbate R, Gensini GF, Casini A. Accruing evidence on benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;92:1189–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The contribution of Prof Jean Delongeville to the section on fatty acids is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: W.M.Monique Verschuren: none.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prevention and Health Services Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, PO Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    W. M. Monique Verschuren

Authors
  1. W. M. Monique Verschuren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. M. Monique Verschuren.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verschuren, W.M.M. Diet and Cardiovascular Disease. Curr Cardiol Rep 14, 701–708 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-012-0318-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-012-0318-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation