Effects of a healthy Nordic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolaemic subjects: a randomized controlled trial (NORDIET)

• Published in: Journal of internal medicine 2011-02, Vol.269 (2), p.150-159
• Main Authors: Adamsson, V., Reumark, A., Fredriksson, I.‐B., Hammarström, E., Vessby, B., Johansson, G., Risérus, U.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; cardiovascular risk factors; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Clinical trials; diet; Diets; Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia; Epidemiology; Female; General aspects; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - complications; Hypercholesterolemia - diet therapy; Insulin; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Milk; Nordic foods; nutrition; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk Factors; Sensitivity; Sweden; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0954-6820; 1365-2796; 1365-2796
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02290.x

.  Adamsson V, Reumark A, Fredriksson I‐B, Hammarström E, Vessby B, Johansson G, Risérus U (Uppsala University, Uppsala; Lantmännen R&D, Stockholm; Bollnäs Heart Clinic, Mitt Hjärta, Bollnäs; Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden). Effects of a healthy Nordic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolaemic subjects: a randomized controlled trial (NORDIET). J Intern Med 2011; 269: 150–159. Objective.  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a healthy Nordic diet (ND) on cardiovascular risk factors. Design and subjects.  In a randomized controlled trial (NORDIET) conducted in Sweden, 88 mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects were randomly assigned to an ad libitum ND or control diet (subjects’ usual Western diet) for 6 weeks. Participants in the ND group were provided with all meals and foods. Primary outcome measurements were low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and secondary outcomes were blood pressure (BP) and insulin sensitivity (fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment‐insulin resistance). The ND was rich in high‐fibre plant foods, fruits, berries, vegetables, whole grains, rapeseed oil, nuts, fish and low‐fat milk products, but low in salt, added sugars and saturated fats. Results.  The ND contained 27%, 52%, 19% and 2% of energy from fat, carbohydrate, protein and alcohol, respectively. In total, 86 of 88 subjects randomly assigned to diet completed the study. Compared with controls, there was a decrease in plasma cholesterol (−16%, P