DLM-SF: Endothelial Function (2021)

Author and Year:
Sanders TAB, Lewis JF, et al, 2013
PubMed ID:
Article Title:
SFAs do not impair endothelial function and arterial stiffness
Authors:
Sanders TAB, Lewis FJ, Goff LM, Chowienczyk PJ
Journal:
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Year of publication:
2013
Volume:
98
Issue:
3
Page numbers:
677-683
Study Design:
Randomized Controlled Trial
Risk of Bias Assessment Rating:
Positive
Inclusion Criteria:
Ages 30-70 years; at risk of metabolic syndrome
Exclusion Criteria:
A medical history of ischemic heart disease; a >30% 10-year risk of CVD; diabetes mellitus; cancer, pancreatitis, cholestatic liver disease, or renal disease; use of lipid-lowering drugs; systemic corticosteroids, androgens, phenytoin, erythromycin, or drugs for regulating hemostasis (excluding aspirin); exposure to any investigational agent >30 d before the study; presence of gastrointestinal disorder or use of a drug that is likely to alter gastrointestinal motility or nutrient absorption; history of substance misuse or alcoholism; current pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or given birth in the past 12 mo; an allergy or intolerance to intervention foods; an unwillingness to follow the protocol or to give informed consent; weight change of >3 kg in the 2 mo before the study; intake of >1 g eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids/d; smoking >20 cigarettes/d;
Research Purpose:
In the present study, we report the results from a substudy (of the Reading, Imperial, Surrey, Cambridge, and Kings intervention) that investigated the influence of saturated fat reduction on endothelial function and arterial stiffness
Blinding efforts:
Measurements were made by an experienced vascular ultrasonographer, who was blinded to treatment allocations
Study Location:
King's College London and Imperial College London
Source(s) of Funding:
Government, University/Hospital
Please specify names of funders:
Biological Biotechnology Scientific Research Council Food Standards Agency National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Facility at Guy's St Thomas' National Health Service Foundation Trust NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Based at Guy's King's College London
Quality Criteria Checklist: Primary Research
Relevance Questions
  1. Would implementing the studied intervention or procedure (if found successful) result in improved outcomes for the patients/clients/population group? (Not Applicable for some epidemiological studies) Yes
  2. Did the authors study an outcome (dependent variable) or topic that the patients/clients/population group would care about? Yes
  3. Is the focus of the intervention or procedure (independent variable) or topic of study a common issue of concern to dieteticspractice? Yes
  4. Is the intervention or procedure feasible? (NA for some epidemiological studies) Yes
 
Validity Questions
1. Was the research question clearly stated? Yes
  1.1. Was (were) the specific intervention(s) or procedure(s) [independent variable(s)] identified? Yes
  1.2. Was (were) the outcome(s) [dependent variable(s)] clearly indicated? Yes
  1.3. Were the target population and setting specified? Yes
2. Was the selection of study subjects/patients free from bias? Yes
  2.1. Were inclusion/exclusion criteria specified (e.g., risk, point in disease progression, diagnostic or prognosis criteria), and with sufficient detail and without omitting criteria critical to the study? Yes
  2.2. Were criteria applied equally to all study groups? Yes
  2.3. Were health, demographics, and other characteristics of subjects described? Yes
  2.4. Were the subjects/patients a representative sample of the relevant population? Yes
3. Were study groups comparable? Yes
  3.1. Was the method of assigning subjects/patients to groups described and unbiased? (Method of randomization identified if RCT) Yes
  3.2. Were distribution of disease status, prognostic factors, and other factors (e.g., demographics) similar across study groups at baseline? Yes
  3.3. Were concurrent controls or comparisons used? (Concurrent preferred over historical control or comparison groups.) Yes
4. Was method of handling withdrawals described? Yes
  4.1. Were follow-up methods described and the same for all groups? N/A
  4.2. Was the number, characteristics of withdrawals (i.e., dropouts, lost to follow up, attrition rate) and/or response rate (cross-sectional studies) described for each group? (Follow up goal for a strong study is 80%.) Yes
  4.3. Were all enrolled subjects/patients (in the original sample) accounted for? Yes
  4.4. Were reasons for withdrawals similar across groups? ???
5. Was blinding used to prevent introduction of bias? Yes
  5.1. In intervention study, were subjects, clinicians/practitioners, and investigators blinded to treatment group, as appropriate? Yes
  5.2. Were data collectors blinded for outcomes assessment? (If outcome is measured using an objective test, such as a lab value, this criterion is assumed to be met.) Yes
6. Were intervention/therapeutic regimens/exposure factor or procedure and any comparison(s) described in detail? Were interveningfactors described? Yes
  6.1. In RCT or other intervention trial, were protocols described for all regimens studied? Yes
  6.3. Was the intensity and duration of the intervention or exposure factor sufficient to produce a meaningful effect? ???
  6.4. Was the amount of exposure and, if relevant, subject/patient compliance measured? Yes
  6.5. Were co-interventions (e.g., ancillary treatments, other therapies) described? No
  6.6. Were extra or unplanned treatments described? No
  6.7. Was the information for 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6 assessed the same way for all groups? Yes
7. Were outcomes clearly defined and the measurements valid and reliable? ???
  7.1. Were primary and secondary endpoints described and relevant to the question? Yes
  7.2. Were nutrition measures appropriate to question and outcomes of concern? Yes
  7.3. Was the period of follow-up long enough for important outcome(s) to occur? ???
  7.4. Were the observations and measurements based on standard, valid, and reliable data collection instruments/tests/procedures? Yes
  7.5. Was the measurement of effect at an appropriate level of precision? Yes
  7.6. Were other factors accounted for (measured) that could affect outcomes? Yes
  7.7. Were the measurements conducted consistently across groups? Yes
8. Was the statistical analysis appropriate for the study design and type of outcome indicators? Yes
  8.1. Were statistical analyses adequately described and the results reported appropriately? Yes
  8.2. Were correct statistical tests used and assumptions of test not violated? Yes
  8.3. Were statistics reported with levels of significance and/or confidence intervals? Yes
  8.4. Was "intent to treat" analysis of outcomes done (and as appropriate, was there an analysis of outcomes for those maximally exposed or a dose-response analysis)? N/A
  8.5. Were adequate adjustments made for effects of confounding factors that might have affected the outcomes (e.g., multivariate analyses)? Yes
  8.6. Was clinical significance as well as statistical significance reported? Yes
  8.7. If negative findings, was a power calculation reported to address type 2 error? Yes
9. Are conclusions supported by results with biases and limitations taken into consideration? Yes
  9.1. Is there a discussion of findings? Yes
  9.2. Are biases and study limitations identified and discussed? Yes
10. Is bias due to study's funding or sponsorship unlikely? Yes
  10.1. Were sources of funding and investigators' affiliations described? Yes
  10.2. Was the study free from apparent conflict of interest? Yes