Low-Total-Fat Diet Did Not Reduce the Risk of Cardiovascular Events

STUDY

Howard BV, Van Horn L, Hsia J, Manson JE, Stefanick ML, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Kuller LH, LaCroix AZ, Langer RD, Lasser NL, Lewis CE, Limacher MC, Margolis KL, Mysiw WJ, Ockene JK, Parker LM, Perri MG, Phillips L, Prentice RL, Robbins J, Rossouw JE, Sarto GE, Schatz IJ, Snetselaar LG, Stevens VJ, Tinker LF, Trevisan M, Vitolins MZ, Anderson GL, Assaf AR, Bassford T, Beresford SA, Black HR, Brunner RL, Brzyski RG, Caan B, Chlebowski RT, Gass M, Granek I, Greenland P, Hays J, Heber D, Heiss G, Hendrix SL, Hubbell FA, Johnson KC, Kotchen JM: Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial.

SUMMARY

Design. The Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial (WHI DMT) was the largest single randomized trial to date examining the effects of a lowfat diet on health outcomes, including the incidence of cardiovascular events over 8 years in 48,835 women. WHI DMT compared the effect of intensive dietary counseling designed to reduce the intake of total fat to < 20% of daily caloric intake against conventional diet.

Subjects. Women aged 50-79 years were eligible to participate. Participants had to have a daily dietary fat intake of ³ 32% for entry, based on a food frequency questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 62 years; 82% were white, …