DIET MODIFICATION IN LOWERING PLASMA-CHOLESTEROL LEVELS - A RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF 3 TYPES OF INTERVENTION

Objective: To compare the efficacy of three types of diet and lifestyl e interventions for lowering plasma lipid levels. Design: Randomised p arallel-group trial. Subjects and setting: Adults with plasma choleste rol levels of 5.5-8.0 mmol/L attending two Sydney community health scr eening clinics were asked to participate: 179 agreed and 131 completed the study. Interventions: A pamphlet with brief advice; group dietary counselling; or individual counselling. Counselling included three se ssions with a dietitian/nutritionist over six months. Main outcome mea sures: Plasma total cholesterol levels measured by Reflotron analyser; fasting serum lipid levels measured by standard laboratory methods; a nd calculated low-density Lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Results: Sig nificantly lower plasma total cholesterol levels (Reflotron) were obse rved at two months and at six months with each of the three interventi ons. Additionally, both types of dietitian/based counselling resulted in small but significant decreases in plasma low-density lipoprotein c holesterol levels at six months in a subset of subjects. Conclusion: A lthough there were no statistically significant differences in efficac y between the three types of intervention, dietitians have a role to p lay in setting up such counselling programs.