• Intervention
    (2005) What effect does the intake of plant sterols and stanols have on total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol?
    • Conclusion

      Plant sterols and stanols are potent hypocholesterolemic agents and a daily consumption of 2 - 3 g (through margarine, lowfat yogurt, orange juice, breads, and cereals) lowers TC concentrations in a dose dependent manner by 4 – 11% and LDL cholesterol concentrations by 7 – 15% without changing HDL cholesterol or triacylglycerol concentrations.

    • Grade: I
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    What is the relationship between plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of death from cardiac events?
    • Conclusion

      Epidemiological studies indicate that inclusion of vegetable oils and food sources high in a-linolenic acid, resulting in a total intake of more than 1.5 g/day, is associated with a 40 – 65% reduced risk of death from cardiac events.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    (2005) Can plant stanols further reduce LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol even for people receiving statin therapy?
    • Conclusion

      For patients receiving statin therapy, plant stanols further reduce LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol.

    • Grade: I
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    (2009) What is the relationship between consumption of a plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid diet and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD)?
    • Conclusion

      One RCT and one case-control study, both of neutral quality, indicate that higher intakes of plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids in patients with CHD, are associated with a decreased rate of cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarction. The experimental group in the RCT also had a significantly lower intake of total lipids, saturated fats and increased intake of oleic, linoleic and alpha-linolenic fatty acids.

       

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    (2008) What is the relationship between consumption of a plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid diet and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in patients without coronary heart disease (CHD)?
    • Conclusion

      Two large positive quality studies (one a cohort and one a cross-sectional), indicate that higher intakes of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in men and women without CHD are associated with a lower risk of fatal ischemic heart disease (IHD) (plasma level used as biomarker) and prolonged repolarization (mean intake 0.74g per day of ALA; source of ALA was not specified). Two positive quality case-control studies indicate that ALA lowers the risk of IHD in men and women in one study (amount of ALA from mustard oil not specified) and sudden cardiac death in women (median intake 1.16g per day ALA; source of ALA was not specified) in the second study. Alpha-linolenic acid, however, was not related to other non-sudden fatal CVD events or to non-fatal myocardial infarction

       

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.