NUTRITION IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH LIPID- LOWERING DRUGS

OBJECTIVE: Assess eating habits in patients with dyslipidemia taking l ipid-lowering drugs and compare the current situation with generally p roposed counselling. METHODS: In the framework of a survey on the prev ention of cardiovascular risk, we studied eating habits in 337 subject s. Food intake was recorded for 3 consecutive days and data compared a mong groups of subjects taking different classes of lipid-lowering dru gs. RESULTS: lipid-lowering therapy was relatively effective, giving s atisfactory laboratory results. In general, patients followed general counselling concerning hyperlipidemia. However, for more specific aspe cts such as balanced fatty acid intake, and elements aimed at mid-term prevention, results could still be improved by further explaining des irable eating habits. CONCLUSION: For patients with hyperlipidemia, it is clear that personalized counselling management, in a structured he alth care unit, is certainly the best way to help these patients and o ptimize therapeutic results.