Portfolio Dietary Pattern Reduces Heart Disease Risk

A plant-based dietary pattern can prevent heart disease in people with high cholesterol, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis published in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. The researchers reviewed seven clinical trials and analyzed outcomes of the Portfolio dietary pattern in participants with hyperlipidemia. The Portfolio dietary pattern significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol by approximately 17 percent, a drop similar to that seen with a dose of low intensity statins, as well as other blood lipids and other cardiometabolic risk factors, such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and C-reactive protein. The 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk decreased by 13 percent. The Portfolio dietary pattern includes daily consumption of at least 45 grams of nuts, at least 50 grams of plant protein, at least 20 grams of viscous fiber, and 2 grams of plant sterols.