What Are We Doing?
There will be two different treatments that the participants will experience during the 6-month study. The first will be a dietary treatment in which participants will learn about the NCEP Step II diet that involves eating a low fat, low cholesterol diet. A certified nutritionist will be teaching the nutrition classes and both the participants and parents will learn about how to eat a heart healthy diet.
The second treatment will involve taking supplements (vitamins). Participants will be expected to take these supplements for two 6-week periods. Below is a more detailed outline of the treatments:
Dietary Intervention
NCEP Step II diet:
- Decrease fat and cholesterol intake with a balance of other nutrients
- Maintain diet for 6 months
- Assessment of nutrient intake determined by 3-day food records (recorded at baseline, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-weeks)
- 2 approaches used for dietary intervention: education counseling and focus groups
- follow-up by phone calls or email every 2 weeks
Dietary Supplements/Vitamins
After first phase of the study, subjects are randomly assigned to dietary supplements or placebo for 6 weeks. All personnel are blinded to the assignment.
- First Protocol, Antioxidant vitamins - 400 IU vitamin E, 500 mg vitamin C
- Rationale for use: Oral supplementation with vitamin E increases resistance of LDL to oxidation and lower its cytotoxicity towards endothelial cells. Vitamin C lowers LDL oxidation and reverses endothelial dysfunction in brachial arteries of young adults with coronary heart disease. Vitamin C also regenerates vitamin E during oxidation, and thereby preserves vitamin E during oxidative stress. High intake of vitamin E has been associated with a lower risk of coronary artery disease incidence.
- Second Protocol, Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) or Omega 3 fatty acids - 1.2 grams
- Rationale for use: DHA which is present in fish body oils and marine algae have the potential for improving cardiovascular health. Consumption of fish and fish oils has been associated with low incidence of coronary heart disease. Consumption of omega 3 fatty acid results in the release of smaller triglyceride poor particles that are rapidly cleared. DHA from fish oils lowers serum cholesterol, triglyceride levels, makes your blood less viscous, thinner and less sticky, less prone to clump together. Fish oils also has been hypothesized to change endothelial cell membrane fluidity, possibly promoting increased nitric oxide synthesis and/or release. Increased nitric oxide decreases oxidative stress on functional endothelial cells.
- Third Protocol, TBA
- Fourth Protocol, TBA
Revised: 16 July 2003
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For more information, contact:
marguerite.engler@nursing.ucsf.edu
Version 1.7 · 17 Jan. 2006
