Effectiveness of a dietary intervention strategy in general practice: effects on blood lipids, health and well-being

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of a dietary treatment programme on blood cholesterol concentration in hypercholesterolaemic patients in general practice and to analyse subjectively experienced side-effects. Design: A 1-year parallel trial comparing a new treatment programme with conventional treatment. Setting: General practitioners in Roskilde county, Denmark. Subjects: 355 men and women, aged 20–60 years, with a persistent blood cholesterol concentration above age- and gender-specific cut-off points (265 in an intervention group and 90 in a control group). Intervention: A treatment strategy based on collaboration between doctor and dietitian using individual dietary advice and feedback from measured biological parameters. Main outcome measures: Serum lipids, body weight, blood pressure, dietary behaviour, health parameters, quality of life parameters and acceptance by patients and general practitioners. Results: Total blood cholesterol concentration decreased by 14% (1.07 mmol l −1 , P −1 , P P 30) reduced body weight by 6% ( P P P P 110 mmHg, respectively. Risk score decreased and self-assessed health, physical and psychological well-being improved. Conclusions: The treatment strategy tested proved to be efficient, without side-effects and well accepted by patients and general practitioners. The results strongly suggest that hypercholesterolaemia can efficiently be treated non-pharmacologically in general practice.