The effect of diet and aspirin on patient outcome after myocardial infarction.

Recent studies show that diet and aspirin therapy inhibit platelet aggregation and may independently reduce complications and mortality in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To compare the effects of diet and aspirin, 140 patients, who were 4-6 wk post acute myocardial infarction, were assigned either to Group A (placebo with cardiovasoprotective diet) or Group B (aspirin [180 mg daily]) with fat-modified control diet in a single-blind controlled fashion. Of the 140 patients, 7 left the trial before it was completed. Of the remaining 133 patients, 68 in Group A and 65 in Group B were followed for one year. When the study began, the following factors were comparable for both groups: mean age, sex, risk factors, complications of myocardial infarction, electrocardiographic changes, and laboratory data. Group A received a significantly higher caloric intake (P less than 0.02) from complex carbohydrates, vegetable proteins, polyunsaturated fats, and larger amounts of dietary fibers, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C compared with Group B, which received significantly larger amounts of saturated fats and cholesterol (P less than 0.01). The rehabilitation program, which included reduced smoking, increased exercise and drug therapy, was comparable in both groups. After one year, mean serum cholesterol (223.2 +/- 32.0 mg/dl) and triglyceride (156.2 +/- 13.5 mg/dl) levels in Group A, but not in Group B, were significantly (P less than 0.02) lower compared with mean serum cholesterol (241.2 +/- 39.5 mg/dl) and triglyceride (175.5 +/- 18.5 mg/dl) levels at the beginning of the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)