The effectiveness of a low lipid diet and exercise in the management of coronary artery disease

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of a high complex carbohydrate, low lipid diet on the management of coronary artery disease, we reviewed data on 32 patients, who had participated in a diet and exercise program, and compared the results with 40 patients who had been managed only with exercise. After a follow-up period of 10 to 16 weeks the patients on the diet-exercise program showed significant reduction in body weight (-6 +/- 2 kg mean +/- standard deviation), serum cholesterol (-43 +/- 41 mg/dl), and triglycerides (-51 +/- 70 mg/dl), while patients who were managed only with exercise had no significant changes in weight or serum lipids. Both the diet-exercise and the exercise groups showed significant improvement in working capacity and reduction in resting systolic blood pressure. Patients on the diet-exercise program had significantly less angina (21.9%) occurring on the exercise test after the program compared to before, even though the same double product was reached. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the data for patients with angina on the exercise test demonstrated that the only significant (p = 0.004) contributor for reduction in angina was the dietary intervention. Beta-blocking drugs did not affect the results. Although randomized controlled trials must be run in order to ascertain the significance of this finding, this study strongly suggests that a low lipid, high carbohydrate diet is a useful addition to exercise in the management of patients with coronary disease.