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You are Here: Home Page > Chronic Disease > Diet and Cardiovascular Disease  

Diet and Cardiovascular Disease

Does diet and nutrition play a role in cardiovascular (CVD)?

There is evidence that plant foods play a role in preventing atherosclerotic heart disease. Plant foods provide dietary fiber that help lower blood cholesterol and antioxidants that help in lipoprotein oxidation. On the other hand, the consumption of saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, and red meat have all been shown to increase the incidence of heart disease. Early work concentrated on how these substances played a role in the level of total and LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins -the bad cholesterol) in the blood. Lowering dietary lipid patterns to decrease saturated fatty acids and cholesterol and increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids will result in decreases in total and LDL cholesterol levels. More recent research indicates that monounsaturated fatty acids also increase HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins -the good cholesterol). A well-maintained diet, will help people with low levels of blood cholesterol minimize the tendency of cholesterol levels to rise with age. People with high levels of blood cholesterol will benefit by controlling their diet as well. Lowering intake from saturated fats, dietary cholesterol, and red meat, while increasing intake of dietary fiber will decrease blood cholesterol levels. It will also improve the effectiveness of lipid lowering drugs. In addition to cholesterol levels, reduction of salt intake can help to alleviate high blood pressure. Finally, good diet plays a role in reducing CVD by helping people to maintain proper body weight.

What are the dietary recommendations for preventing cardiovascular disease?

For the population, a healthy diet that can be recommended for all healthy people over two years of age is low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and is moderate in sodium. Fat intake should be lowered to no more than 30% of calories, while limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10% of calories. Cholesterol intake is limited to no more than 300 mg per day. For persons who have already been diagnosed with some form of CVD, further modifications are usually advised. Increase fiber intake to 25 grams per day; especially increase soluble fiber for persons with high blood cholesterol and diabetes.

Does a high fat diet during childhood and adolescence increase the risk of heart disease?

Prevention of heart and blood vessel disease needs to begin at an early age. Atherosclerosis, or fatty deposits in the walls of the blood vessels, was shown in otherwise healthy young soldiers killed in battle in the Korean War. More recently, an autopsy study of 1,079 men and women who died between the ages of 15 and 34 showed fatty deposits and lesions in those with high levels of blood cholesterol. Eating habits that develop early can be difficult to change. Therefore, a preventive diet is recommended for all healthy children over the age of two years.

Is poor diet a public health problem?

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), one of the major national surveys in the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Program, is a major source of periodic information of the dietary, nutritional and health status of the U.S. population. The dietary assessment component included a 24-hour recall interview. Highlights of this survey include: Mean daily intake of energy was 2,095 kilocalories (kcal) for persons two months of age and older. The overall dietary pattern for the U.S. population ages two months and older was 50% of energy from carbohydrate, 15% of energy from protein, 34% of energy from fat, and 2% of energy from alcohol.

When comparing mean intakes of energy and protein with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) it has been found that although the percent of energy from fat has declined since the 1970s and 1980s, mean values for the population are still above the Year 2000 goal of 30% of energy or less from total fat and less than 10% of energy in the population. Mean cholesterol intakes decreased in adults. The mean cholesterol intakes for adult males was still above the recommended level of 300 milligrams or less per day.

Facts and statistics about diet and nutrition in NYS:

• 28% of the adult New York population is overweight
  • 32% of nonwhites
  • 26% of whites
  • 29% of males
  • 27% of females
• 25% of adult New Yorkers were estimated to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day in 1996
  • 22% of nonwhites
  • 27% of whites
  • 23% of males
  • 28% of females
• 24% of New York adults drink at least 1 glass of whole milk, five or more times a week. Whole milk is known to be a major source of fat in the daily diets of Americans
• 58.9% of the respondents in a 1995 New York State participant survey of women in the Women Infants and Children supplemental food program (WIC) reported preferring to purchase whole milk with WIC checks and 21.1% reported a preference for purchasing 2% milk. This purchasing pattern contributed to the finding of whole milk as a primary source of fat for WIC children