Lipid and lipoprotein responses of dyslipidemic patients to exclusive nutritional counseling by gender and age

Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the plasma lipid responses of dyslipidemic patients to nutritional counseling according to gender and age. Methods One-hundred and twenty nine dyslipidemic subjects comprised the study, 56 men and 73 women, aged 20 to 73 years, treated at the Dyslipidemia Outpatient Clinic of the Universidade Estadual de Campinas Clinic Hospital. The inclusion criteria established that no lipid-lowering medication had been used in the 30 days prior to and during the nutritional counseling. Blood samples were collected in the morning after a 12 hour fast. The participants were divided into groups according to gender and age (age <60 and >= 60 years). The hypercholesterolemic patients were instructed to restrict saturated fats (<7%) and cholesterol (<200mg/day). Those presenting with high triglyceride levels (>300mg/dL) were asked to consume a low fat diet. Those with mixed hyperlipidemia were instructed to do both. Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests and Analysis of Covariance. Results After nutritional counseling, total cholesterol and triglycerides decreased by 16% and 36% in males, and by 12% and 26% in females, respectively, and Low Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased by 12% in females. Only triglycerides decrease significantly. In the mixed hyperlipidemia group, the male and female triglyceride (-44% and -29%), Low Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (+12% and -15%) and High Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (+7% and -3%) levels differed significantly. Between the age groups, only triglyceride levels differed significantly, with adults experiencing the highest reductions (33%). Conclusion Nutritional counseling effectively lowered plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels, reinforcing the benefits of dietary interventions for the treatment of dyslipidemia.