Key takeaways:
- A research following 200,000 folks for many years revealed new information on the significance of meals high quality for coronary heart well being.
- PCPs ought to deal with their sufferers’ macronutrient high quality, a researcher stated.
ORLANDO — For coronary heart well being, meals high quality issues simply as a lot as a dietary sample, based on presenters on the annual NUTRITION assembly.
“Low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets have been broadly promoted, but their long-term results on coronary heart illness stay debated,” Zhiyuan Wu, PhD, a postdoctoral analysis fellow on the Harvard T.H. Chan College of Public Well being’s Division of Diet, informed Healio. “We aimed to guage how the standard and meals sources inside these diets have an effect on coronary heart illness danger and form the metabolic profiles.”
For coronary heart well being, following a low-fat or low-carb dietary sample might not confer advantages except it’s composed of high-quality, wholesome meals. Picture: Adobe Inventory
Wu and colleagues performed a research through which they adopted practically 200,000 individuals — 64,164 girls within the Nurse’s Well being Examine, performed from 1986 to 2018; 92,189 girls within the Nurses’ Well being Examine II, performed from 1991 to 2019; and 43,430 males within the Well being Professionals Comply with-Up Examine, performed from 1986 to 2016.
The researchers analyzed detailed questionnaires from the individuals, assigning scores based on how wholesome their meals decisions have been inside low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets. They documented 19,407 instances of coronary coronary heart illness and located that individuals who adopted an unhealthy model of their chosen eating regimen noticed the next danger for creating coronary coronary heart illness, however those that adopted a wholesome model noticed a decrease danger.
“Each wholesome low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets have been related to a 15% decrease danger for coronary heart illness,” Wu stated.
To enhance sufferers’ diets, the researchers advisable lowering processed meat, sugary meals and refined carb consumption whereas including extra fruits, greens, nuts, legumes and complete grains. Additionally they advisable being attentive to meals labels, noting low-quality elements, like added sugars in processed snacks or juices.
Wu stated the take-home message for PCPs is to “prioritize eating regimen high quality over merely lowering carbs or fat for coronary heart illness prevention.”
“For scientific follow, the main target ought to be on the standard of macronutrients — encouraging complete grains, plant-based fat and minimizing refined carbs, sugary meals and processed meats — no matter whether or not a low-carbohydrate or low-fat eating regimen is adopted,” Wu stated.
For extra data:
Zhiyuan Wu, PhD, may be reached at zhiyuanwu@hsph.harvard.edu.
References:
- For coronary heart well being, meals high quality issues greater than chopping carbs or fats. Out there at: www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084802. Revealed June 1, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025.
- Wu Z, et al. Summary P17-077-25. Offered at: NUTRITION; Might 31-June 3, 2025; Orlando.
