A two-year vegetarian diet was associated with no coronary lesion growth in patients whose total/HDL cholesterol remained below 6.9 or was significantly lowered by the diet (r=0.50, P=0.001).
Cohort (n=39)
Blinded assessors
Does a vegetarian diet prevent the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with stable angina pectoris?
A vegetarian diet that effectively lowers the total/HDL cholesterol ratio may halt the angiographic progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with stable angina.
Effect estimate: r = 0.50
p-value: p=0.001
We studied the relation between diet, serum lipoproteins, and the progression of coronary lesions in 39 patients with stable angina pectoris in whom coronary arteriography had shown at least one vessel with 50 per cent obstruction before intervention. Intervention consisted of a two-year vegetarian diet that had a ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids of at least 2 and that contained less than 100 mg of cholesterol per day. Dietary changes were associated with a significant increase in linoleic acid content of cholesteryl esters and a significant lowering of body weight, systolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, and the ratio of total to high-density lipoprotein (total/HDL) cholesterol. Angiographic examination was performed after 24 months; angiograms were assessed visually (with blinding) and by computer-assisted image analysis. Both types of assessment indicated progression of disease in 21 of 39 patients but no lesion growth in 18. Coronary lesion growth correlated with total/HDL cholesterol (r = 0.50, P = 0.001) but not with blood pressure, smoking status, alcohol intake, weight, or drug treatment. Disease progression was significant in patients who had values for total/HDL cholesterol that were higher than the median (greater than 6.9) throughout the trial period. No coronary-lesion growth was observed in patients who had lower values for total/HDL cholesterol (less than 6.9) throughout the trial or who initially had higher values (greater than 6.9) that were significantly lowered by dietary intervention.
Arntzenius et al. (1985) conducted a cohort in Stable angina pectoris with coronary atherosclerosis (n=39). Vegetarian diet was evaluated on Progression of coronary lesions (r = 0.50, p=0.001). A two-year vegetarian diet was associated with no coronary lesion growth in patients whose total/HDL cholesterol remained below 6.9 or was significantly lowered by the diet (r=0.50, P=0.001).