Cited by 1,091Nutritional Studies and DietCardiovascular Health and Risk FactorsLipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health

Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial

Howard, Barbara V., Van Horn, Linda, Hsia, Judith, Manson, JoAnn E., Stefanick, Marcia L., Wassertheil-Smoller, Sylvia, Kuller, Lewis H., LaCroix, Andrea Z. +39 more·2006·JAMA

Abstract

CONTEXT: Multiple epidemiologic studies and some trials have linked diet with cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, but long-term intervention data are needed. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that a dietary intervention, intended to be low in fat and high in vegetables, fruits, and grains to reduce cancer, would reduce CVD risk. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Randomized controlled trial of 48,835 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years, of diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, who participated in the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial. Women were randomly assigned to an intervention (19,541 [40%]) or comparison group (29,294 [60%]) in a free-living setting. Study enrollment occurred between 1993 and 1998 in 40 US clinical centers; mean follow-up in this analysis was 8.1 years. INTERVENTION: Intensive behavior modification in group and individual sessions designed to reduce total fat intake to 20% of calories and increase intakes of vegetables/fruits to 5 servings/d and grains to at least 6 servings/d. The comparison group received diet-related education materials. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD), fatal and nonfatal stroke, and CVD (composite of CHD and stroke). RESULTS: By year 6, mean fat intake decreased by 8.2% of energy intake in the intervention vs the comparison group, with small decreases in saturated (2.9%), monounsaturated (3.3%), and polyunsaturated (1.5%) fat; increases occurred in intakes of vegetables/fruits (1.1 servings/d) and grains (0.5 serving/d). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, diastolic blood pressure, and factor VIIc levels were significantly reduced by 3.55 mg/dL, 0.31 mm Hg, and 4.29%, respectively; levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and insulin did not significantly differ in the intervention vs comparison groups. The numbers who developed CHD, stroke, and CVD (annualized incidence rates) were 1000 (0.63%), 434 (0.28%), and 1357 (0.86%) in the intervention and 1549 (0.65%), 642 (0.27%), and 2088 (0.88%) in the comparison group. The diet had no significant effects on incidence of CHD (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-1.06), stroke (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.90-1.15), or CVD (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.92-1.05). Excluding participants with baseline CVD (3.4%), the HRs (95% CIs) for CHD and stroke were 0.94 (0.86-1.02) and 1.02 (0.90-1.17), respectively. Trends toward greater reductions in CHD risk were observed in those with lower intakes of saturated fat or trans fat or higher intakes of vegetables/fruits. CONCLUSIONS: Over a mean of 8.1 years, a dietary intervention that reduced total fat intake and increased intakes of vegetables, fruits, and grains did not significantly reduce the risk of CHD, stroke, or CVD in postmenopausal women and achieved only modest effects on CVD risk factors, suggesting that more focused diet and lifestyle interventions may be needed to improve risk factors and reduce CVD risk. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000611.

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Crossref · 10.1001/jama.295.6.655

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Authors
Howard, B. V., Van Horn, L., Hsia, J., Manson, J. E., Stefanick, M. L., Wassertheil-Smoller, S., Kuller, L. H., LaCroix, A. Z., Langer, R. D., Lasser, N. L., Lewis, C. E., Limacher, M. C., Margolis, K. L., Mysiw, W. J., Ockene, J. K., Parker, L. M., Perri, M. G., Phillips, L., Prentice, R. L., Robbins, J., Rossouw, J. E., Sarto, G. E., Schatz, I. J., Snetselaar, L. G., Stevens, V. J., Tinker, L. F., Trevisan, M., Vitolins, M. Z., Anderson, G. L., Assaf, A. R., Bassford, T., Beresford, S. A. A., Black, H. R., Brunner, R. L., Brzyski, R. G., Caan, B., Chlebowski, R. T., Gass, M., Granek, I., Greenland, P., Hays, J., Heber, D., Heiss, G., Hendrix, S. L., Hubbell, F. A., Johnson, K. C., & Kotchen, J. M.
Affiliations
  • Howard University (US)
  • George Washington University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
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  • Yeshiva University (US)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US)
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  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
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  • University of California, Davis (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
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  • University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
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  • Medical College of Wisconsin (US)
Venue
JAMA
Published
2006-02-08
Volume
295
Issue
6
Pages
655
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
OpenAlex
W2112728975
Cited by
1,091
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 49 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 63 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 80 · 2012: 64
FWCI
103.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship@UMassChan (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
Keywords
low-fat diet, cardiovascular disease prevention, coronary artery disease, stroke, postmenopausal women, dietary intervention, behavior modification, fat intake reduction, fruit and vegetable intake, grain consumption, LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial, cardiovascular risk factors
MeSH terms
Aged, Energy Intake, Cardiovascular Diseases, Coronary Disease, Fatty Acids, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Middle Aged, Primary Prevention, Risk, Risk Factors, Incidence, Proportional Hazards Models, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Postmenopause, Diet, Fat-Restricted, Stroke

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