Research

Mixed

Adhering to the Portfolio Dietary Pattern (combining nuts, plant protein, viscous fiber, and plant sterols) significantly reduces LDL cholesterol by approximately 17% compared to a standard National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step II diet.

To lower your LDL cholesterol significantly, adopt the Portfolio Dietary Pattern. This involves eating specific amounts of four plant-based food groups daily: nuts (42g), plant protein like soy or beans (50g), viscous fiber from oats or barley (20g), and plant sterols (2g). This combination, when used alongside a standard low-saturated-fat diet, has been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol by approximately 17% in clinical trials involving individuals with high cholesterol.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The combination of a portfolio dietary pattern and NCEP Step II diet significantly reduced the primary outcome LDL-C by ~17% (MD, −0.73 mmol/L, [95% CI, −0.89 to −0.56 mmol/L]) ... compared with an NCEP Step 2 diet alone (p < 0.05).
Laura Chiavaroli et al. · Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases · 2018

Why this rating

High certainty of evidence for LDL-C based on GRADE assessment of controlled trials, though heterogeneity was present.

Source

Portfolio Dietary Pattern and Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Controlled Trials

Laura Chiavaroli et al. · Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases · 2018

Meta-analysis · 7 studiesCited 226×
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