It is widely accepted that a low-fat diet lowers blood cholesterol and is protective against heart disease. Also, a high-fat intake is often, although not always, linked to obesity, which in turn can increase heart disease risk. Yet, the situation is complicated by the fact that different fatty acids have differing effects on the various lipoproteins that carry cholesterol. Furthermore, when certain fats are lowered in the diet, they may be replaced by other components that carry risk. High-carbohydrate diets, for example, may actually increase cardiovascular risk for some individuals, such as those prone to metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Heredity also plays a role in an individual’s response to particular dietary manipulations.

In general, saturated fatty acids, which are found primarily in animal foods, tend to elevate LDL and total blood cholesterol. However, the most cholesterol-raising saturated fatty acids (lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids) can come from both plant and animal sources, while stearic acid, derived from animal fat as well as from cocoa butter, is considered neutral, neither raising nor lowering blood cholesterol levels.

When saturated fatty acids are replaced by unsaturated fatty acids—either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated—LDL and total blood cholesterol are usually lowered, an effect largely attributed to the reduction in saturated fat. However, polyunsaturated fatty acids tend to lower HDL cholesterol levels, while monounsaturated fatty acids tend to maintain them. The major monounsaturated fatty acid in animals and plants is oleic acid; good dietary sources are olive, canola, and high-oleic safflower oils, as well as avocados, nuts, and seeds. Historically, the low mortality from CHD in populations eating a traditional Mediterranean diet has been linked to the high consumption of olive oil in the region, although the plentiful supply of fruits and vegetables could also be a factor. Olive oil consumption is also associated with decreased levels of amyloid-beta plaque formation and a reduction of inflammation in the brain; such plaques and inflammation are indicative of Alzheimer disease. Studies in animals suggest that a diet rich in olive oil helps preserve memory and learning ability.

The two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in foods are omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Linoleic acid, the primary omega-6 fatty acid in most diets, is widespread in foods; the major source is vegetable oils such as sunflower, safflower, and corn oils. Low cardiovascular disease rates in Eskimo populations eating traditional diets high in omega-3 fatty acids initially provoked the speculation that these fatty acids may be protective against CHD. The primary lipid-altering effect of omega-3 fatty acids is the reduction of blood triglycerides. Omega-3 fatty acids may also protect the heart and blood vessels by lowering blood pressure, reducing blood clotting, preventing irregular heart rhythms, and acting as anti-inflammatory agents. The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are derived from alpha-linolenic acid, a shorter-chain member of the same family. Fatty fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, and tuna are high in both EPA and DHA. Flaxseed is an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid, which the body can convert to the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, canola oil, soybean oil, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, and egg yolk. A diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids may increase LDL lipid oxidation and thereby accelerate atherosclerosis; therefore, it should be accompanied by increased intakes of vitamin E, an antioxidant. Fish oil supplements are not advised without medical supervision because of possible adverse effects, such as bleeding.

The safety of trans (as opposed to naturally occurring cis) unsaturated fatty acids has been called into question because trans-fatty acids in the diet raise LDL cholesterol to about the same extent as do saturated fatty acids, and they can also lower HDL cholesterol. Trans-fatty acids are found naturally in some animal fats, such as beef, butter, and milk, but they are also produced during the hydrogenation process, in which unsaturated oils are made harder and more stable. Certain margarines, snack foods, baked goods, and deep-fried products are major food sources of trans-fatty acids.

Dietary cholesterol

Cholesterol in food and cholesterol in the blood are distinct entities, and they are often confused. Dietary cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin, and it is particularly high in egg yolk and organ meats. Cholesterol in the diet raises LDL cholesterol but not as much as saturated fatty acids do. If dietary cholesterol is already high, consuming even more cholesterol may not increase blood cholesterol levels further because of feedback control mechanisms. Also, there is great individual variation in response to dietary cholesterol. For healthy people, a cholesterol intake averaging less than 300 mg daily is recommended; however, because cholesterol is synthesized by the body, none is required in the diet.

Other dietary factors

Ingestion of soluble fibre, a component of dietary fibre (indigestible plant material), lowers LDL and total blood cholesterol levels and has been linked to decreased mortality from cardiovascular disease. Sources of soluble fibre include whole oats, barley, legumes, some vegetables, and fruits, particularly apples, plums, apricots, blueberries, strawberries, and citrus fruits; psyllium and other fibre supplements may also be recommended. The mechanism whereby soluble fibre lowers cholesterol levels is unclear, although it is probably related to its ability to bind with cholesterol and bile acids in the gut, thereby removing them from circulation. Other factors may contribute as well, such as fermentation of fibre by bacteria in the colon, resulting in compounds that inhibit cholesterol synthesis.

Light to moderate alcohol intake (up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women) is associated with reduced CHD risk, primarily because of its ability to raise HDL cholesterol levels and possibly because it helps prevent blood clot formation. Alcohol intake may help explain the so-called French paradox: heart disease rates in France are low despite a CHD risk profile comparable to that in the United States, where rates are relatively high. Wine also contains antioxidant compounds, such as resveratrol from grape skins, that may inhibit LDL oxidation, but the beneficial effect of these substances is likely far less than that of alcohol itself.

Mortality from stroke and heart disease is significantly associated with dietary sodium (salt) intake, but only in overweight individuals, who may have an increased sensitivity to dietary sodium. Sodium intake also appears to have a direct effect on risk of stroke beyond its effect on blood pressure, which itself influences stroke risk. On the other hand, diets rich in potassium are linked to reduced risk of stroke.

Soy foods are associated with decreased LDL and total blood cholesterol levels, as well as other vascular effects associated with reduced CHD risk. Tofu, tempeh, miso, soy flour, soy milk, and soy nuts are among the soy foods that contain isoflavones, estrogen-like compounds that are thought to be responsible for these beneficial cardiovascular effects.

Antioxidant substances found in food and taken as dietary supplements include vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene (a plant precursor to vitamin A). Dietary antioxidants may lower CHD risk, although clinical trials have not yet supported this notion.

Other factors

For blood pressure that is equal to or greater than the “prehypertension” level of 120/80 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg), the more elevated the blood pressure, the greater the risk of heart disease. Hypertension (140/90 mm Hg and above) and atherosclerosis are mutually reinforcing: hypertension injures artery walls, thereby encouraging plaque formation; and once plaque has formed and arteries are less elastic, hypertension is aggravated. If hypertension is treated, the incidence of CHD, stroke, and congestive heart failure decreases.

Diabetes—often accompanied by hypertension, high blood triglyceride levels, and obesity—is an important risk factor for heart disease and also warrants aggressive intervention. Furthermore, for people with diabetes who have a heart attack, there is an unusually high death rate, immediately or in the ensuing years. If blood glucose levels are strictly controlled, vascular complications will be decreased.

Obesity is also an important factor in cardiovascular disease, primarily through its influence on other simultaneously present risk factors. Obese individuals often have an abnormal glucose tolerance and diabetes, hypertension, and blood lipoprotein abnormalities, including higher triglyceride levels and lower HDL cholesterol levels. Fat accumulation around the waist (the so-called apple shape) puts one at greater risk for premature heart disease than does fat accumulation around the hips (pear shape). A waist circumference greater than 102 cm (40 inches) for men or 88 cm (35 inches) for women is considered a high risk. Besides helping to control weight, regular exercise is thought to decrease CHD risk in several ways: slowing the progression of atherosclerosis, increasing the blood supply to the heart muscle, increasing HDL cholesterol, reducing VLDL levels, improving glucose tolerance, and reducing blood pressure. At a minimum, 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, on most days is recommended.

A newly described constellation of CHD risk factors called metabolic syndrome is marked by abdominal obesity, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood triglycerides, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance. First named Syndrome X in 1988 by American endocrinologist Gerald Reaven, this condition is exacerbated when susceptible people eat high-carbohydrate diets. Individuals with metabolic syndrome benefit from regular physical activity and weight reduction, along with a diet lower in carbohydrates and saturated fat and higher in unsaturated fat.

Individuals with the genetic disease hereditary hemochromatosis excessively absorb iron, which can build up to dangerously high levels and damage the heart, liver, and other organs. Approximately 1 in 9 people of European descent are carriers (i.e., have one of two possible genes) for the disease and have an increased risk of heart disease. However, studies examining the possible role of dietary iron in heart disease risk for those who lack the gene for hemochromatosis have been inconclusive.

The amino acid homocysteine, when present in elevated amounts in blood, may damage arteries and promote atherosclerosis. Inadequate intake of vitamin B₆, vitamin B₁₂, or folic acid can increase blood homocysteine levels, although folic acid deficiency is the most common cause. While elevated homocysteine is not yet an established risk factor for CHD, it is prudent to ensure adequate intake of folic acid.

Dietary recommendations

Although plaque formation starts in childhood, infants or children under two years of age should not have any dietary restriction placed on cholesterol and fat. After age two, dietary recommendations to reduce CHD risk generally focus on controlling intake of total fat, saturated and trans-fatty acids, and dietary cholesterol, combined with physical activity and weight management. Since atherosclerosis is so common, such diets are considered useful not only for the general public but also for people with high LDL cholesterol or other CHD risk factors. A preventive diet for adults might include 20 to 35 percent of kilocalories as dietary fat, with low intake of saturated and trans-fatty acids (no more than 10 percent of kilocalories), and cholesterol intake below 300 mg daily. A therapeutic diet, which should be managed by a registered dietitian or other qualified nutrition professional, is even more restrictive. Practical suggestions include reducing intake of fatty spreads, organ meats, fatty meats, egg yolks, full-fat dairy products, baked goods and fried foods; removing skin from poultry; and carefully reading food labels to reduce hidden fats in processed foods. An emphasis on oats and other whole grains, vegetables, and fruits—with the inclusion of nonfat or low-fat dairy products, fish, legumes, poultry, and lean meats—is likely to benefit not only cardiovascular health but also overall health.