DIET AND CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE PREVENTION - WHAT WORKS

Diet is routinely recommended as the primary strategy for the preventi on and treatment of high blood cholesterol. The National Cholesterol E ducation Program (NCEP), the American Heart Association (AHA), and a h ost of other health and medical organisations have advocated a diet lo w in total and saturated fat and cholesterol for reducing risk of card iovascular disease. What is the evidence supporting these guidelines a nd the expected efficacy of dietary treatment There is growing awarene ss that despite well-documented rationale for the dietary approach, ma ny eligible patients are nor routinely prescribed dietary treatment, a nd among those who are, there is limited response. What are the obstac les in implementing effective dietary intervention for prevention of c ardiovascular disease ? What are both the theoretical and practical li mitations to achieving long-term adherence to diet and what strategies have been shown to be most effective? A review of the data surroundin g these diet-lipid relationships is presented along with recently test ed and promising behavioral approaches to facilitating patient adheren ce.