Long-term effects of nutritional group education for persons at high cardiovascular risk.

Background: Treatment of persons at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) should include nutritional counselling, but little is known about the effects of different types of education.

Methods: In a quasi-experimental study design the effects of a nutritional education programme (1st year: three group sessions by a dietitian; 2nd year: one group session; 3rd year: additional focus on saturated fat; reinforcement by written nutritional messages annually) (intervention group; n=103) are compared with the effects of a posted leaflet containing standard dietary guidelines (control group; n=163). Participants had hypercholesterolemia (6-8 mmol/l) and at least two other CHD risk factors.

Results: After 3 years, no significant differences existed in established CHD risk factors between intervention and control groups (adjusted mean net differences: total cholesterol (0 mmol/l), diastolic blood pressure (-1.1 mm Hg; NS), and body weight (+0.3 kg, NS)). Regarding dietary intake, the intervention group had a lower intake of total (net difference -2.0% of energy, SEM 0.9) and saturated fat (-1.2% of energy, SEM 0.4) and a higher fish (+11 g/day, SEM 4) and vegetables consumption (+21 g/day, SEM 10) during the study period (p<0.05 for all).

Conclusion: A nutritional education programme with group sessions changed dietary intake more effectively than a posted leaflet, but no additional positive effects were observed on established CHD risk factors after three years of follow-up.