Plant-based diet lowers LDL cholesterol: new study results

Plant-based diet lowers LDL cholesterol: new study results

A recent February 2024 study looked at how a cholesterol-lowering diet affects blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in the blood that is essential for life, but in high amounts can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In particular, a special nutritional score was developed that assesses adherence to a cholesterol-lowering diet. The score is based on adherence to seven dietary indicators and varies between 0 (no adherence) and 7 (highest adherence).

The study focused on patients with breast cancer who were part of the DEDiCa study. The nutritional score of these patients was determined using a 7-day nutritional protocol. Additionally, their serum lipid profile, including total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was assessed at baseline.

The results showed that patients with a high nutritional score (i.e., a score of ≥ 4) had lower LDL-C levels than those with a score between 0 and 1. Specifically, the median LDL-C level in patients with a high score was 107 mg/dL compared to 122 mg/dL with a low score. It was also found that adherence to such a diet is associated with a lower percentage of women whose LDL-C is above the recommended limit of 116 mg/dL - 60.0% with a low and 42.6% with a high adherence to the diet score.

Interestingly, the score correlated directly with the consumption of plant-based foods, but only had a moderate association with the “healthful plant-based diet index” (r-Spearman = 0.51) and the “Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener” (r-Spearman = 0.30).

Analysis of possible future impacts:

The study suggests that a specific cholesterol-lowering diet rich in plant-based foods may actually lower blood LDL cholesterol levels. This could lead to a change in current dietary guidelines, particularly for people at increased risk of cardiovascular disease or those who want to actively lower their cholesterol levels. In the context of breast cancer prevention and management, this finding may also play a role by providing an additional nutrition-based strategy for patients.

Explanation of basic terms:

• Cholesterin: Eine wachsartige Substanz im Blut, die für den Aufbau von Zellen notwendig ist, aber in hohen Konzentrationen gesundheitsschädlich sein kann.
• LDL-C: Low-Density-Lipoprotein-Cholesterin, oft als „schlechtes“ Cholesterin bezeichnet, weil es zur Ansammlung von Plaque in den Arterien beitragen kann.
• Adhärenz: Das Ausmaß, in dem das Verhalten einer Person, einschließlich der Einhaltung von Ernährungsempfehlungen, den vereinbarten Empfehlungen eines Gesundheitsdienstleisters entspricht.
• DEDiCa-Studie: Eine wissenschaftliche Untersuchung (der Name ist fiktiv und dient als Platzhalter).

Influence of diet on serum lipid profile in breast cancer patients

Summary of research

Recent research suggests that high adherence to a cholesterol-lowering diet, as measured by a specially developed nutritional score, is significantly correlated with lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in breast cancer patients. The use of such a nutritional score could therefore represent an effective tool for improving the serum lipid profile and potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications in this patient group.

Methodology of the study

The nutritional score is based on the dietary portfolio theory of cholesterol reduction and assesses adherence to seven dietary indicators. Patients with breast cancer enrolled in the DEDiCa study were evaluated using a 7-day dietary protocol and their serum lipid profile, including total cholesterol and LDL-C, was measured at baseline.

Results

• Patientinnen mit einer hohen Adhärenz zum cholesterinsenkenden Diät (Score ≥ 4) wiesen niedrigere mittlere LDL-C Werte auf (107 mg/dL) im Vergleich zu Frauen mit niedriger Adhärenz (Score 0-1) (122 mg/dL) (p < 0.01).
• 60,0% der Frauen mit einem Score von 0-1 hatten LDL-C Werte über dem empfohlenen Limit von 116 mg/dL, verglichen mit 42,6% der Frauen mit einem Score ≥ 4.
• Eine direkte Korrelation wurde zwischen dem Ernährungsscore und dem Konsum von pflanzlichen Lebensmitteln festgestellt, wobei dieser nur mäßig mit dem Healthful Plant-Based Diet Index (r-Spearman = 0.51) und dem Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (r-Spearman = 0.30) assoziiert war.

Conclusions

The results support the importance of a specific plant-based dietary pattern, identified via the newly developed nutritional score, in reducing LDL cholesterol levels in breast cancer patients. These findings expand current understanding of the role of nutrition in the cardiovascular health of specific patient populations and emphasize the need for targeted dietary counseling and intervention.

Source: Study on the relationship between diet and serum lipid profile