Consumption of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol lowering foods improves blood lipids without affecting concentrations of fat soluble compounds

Year Published: 2014

Nutr J

Vanu R Ramprasath, David JA Jenkins, Benoit Lamarche, Cyril WC Kendall, Dorothea Faulkner, Luba Cermakova, Patrick Couture, Chris Ireland, Shahad Abdulnour, Darshna Patel, Balachandran Bashyam, Korbua Srichaikul, Russell J de Souza, Edward Vidgen, Robert G Josse, Lawrence A Leiter, Philip W Connelly, Jiri Frohlich, and Peter JH Jones

PORTFOLIO DIET: The study took 351 participants with high blood lipid levels and gave them a prescribed diet to see if it would lower their cholesterol. The diet consisted largely of plant sterols, viscous fiber, soy protein and mixed nuts (including peanuts and peanut butter).

Key Findings: The Portfolio diet successfully reduced serum total and LDL cholesterol levels, and increased phytosterol concentration. According to the authors, "Results indicate portfolio diet as one of the best options for CVD risk reduction"