Long-term effects of nutritional group education for persons at high cardiovascular risk
article
Background: Treatment of persons at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) should include nutritional counselling, but little is known about the effects of different types of education. Methods: In a quasi-experimental study design the effects of a nutritional education programme (1st year: three group sessions by a dietitian; 2nd year: one group session; 3rd year: additional focus on saturated fat; reinforcement by written nutritional messages annually) (intervention group; n=103) are compared with the effects of a posted leaflet containing standard dietary guidelines (control group; n=163). Participants had hypercholesterolemia (6-8 mmol/l) and at least two other CHD risk factors. Results: After 3 years, no significant differences existed in established CHD risk factors between intervention and control groups (adjusted mean net differences: total cholesterol (0 mmol/l), diastolic blood pressure (-1.1 mm Hg; NS), and body weight (+0.3 kg, NS)). Regarding dietary intake, the intervention group had a lower intake of total (net difference -2.0% of energy, SEM 0.9) and saturated fat (-1.2% of energy, SEM 0.4) and a higher fish (+11 g/day, SEM 4) and vegetables consumption (+21 g/day, SEM 10) during the study period (p<0.05 for all). Conclusion: A nutritional education programme with group sessions changed dietary intake more effectively than a posted leaflet, but no additional positive effects were observed on established CHD risk factors after three years of follow-up.
Topics
Food and Chemical Risk AnalysisCardiovascular riskDietary intakeNutritional educationRisk factorsSaturated fatty acidAdultBody weightCardiovascular riskCholesterol blood levelControlled studyDiastolic blood pressureEnergyFemaleFollow upGroup therapyHealth programHigh risk populationHumanIschemic heart diseaseMajor clinical studyMaleNutritionPatient counselingPatient educationPriority journalRisk factorAdultAgedAnalysis of VarianceBlood PressureBody Mass IndexBody WeightCardiovascular DiseasesChi-Square DistributionCholesterolCoronary DiseaseCounselingDietDietary FatsDietary FiberEnergy IntakeFatty AcidsFemaleFollow-Up StudiesFruitHealth EducationHumansHypercholesterolemiaMaleMiddle AgedNutrition PhysiologyRisk FactorsTime FactorsVegetables
TNO Identifier
237960
ISSN
11011262
Source
European Journal of Public Health, 14(3), pp. 240-245.
Pages
240-245
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