Favorable long-term effect of a low-fat/high-fiber diet on human blood coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Abstract

In an 8-month strictly controlled dietary study of 16 healthy young men, the long-term effect of a low-fat (26% of energy) high-fiber (4.5 g/MJ) diet on cardiovascular risk markers of the hemostatic system was assessed. Fasting blood sampling was performed during a 4-week baseline period and then monthly during the intervention. A matched control group of 16 men on habitual diets was also monitored. Median fibrinolytic activity of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in plasma was significantly elevated (twofold to fourfold) by the experimental diet. A significant increase in the systemic fibrinolytic activity of the euglobulin fraction of plasma was also observed. Median plasma factor VII coagulant activity (F VIIc) was depressed by 5-10% during the first 2 months and the last month of the study period. The dietary change did not significantly affect plasma levels of fibrinogen, t-PA antigen, or plasminogen activator inhibitor type I antigen. In conclusion, young men who were switched from a typical Danish diet high in saturated fat to a low-fat/high-fiber diet showed a permanent increase in plasma fibrinolytic activity and a biphasic decrease in F VIIc. The dietary change thus had a favorable effect on cardiovascular risk markers of the hemostatic system. (

Improved fibrinolysis by an intensive lifestyle intervention in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study

“…Fibre intake, however, had no independent explanatory power, as has been shown previously [33,34]. All changes in the dietary components were connected with changes in weight.…”

The impact of angiotensin II receptor blockade and the DASH diet on markers of endogenous fibrinolysis

“…The lack of effect of the DASH diet is consistent with previous studies that demonstrated no effect of a low-fat diet on t-PA antigen. 26,27 Another strength of the current study is that we were able to rigorously control dietary sodium intake and body weight, two potentially important determinants of hemostasis. Thus, it is possible that concomitant changes in weight and/or sodium intake in prior dietary studies were more important than overall dietary patterns.…”

“…Several smaller dietary studies have examined the impact of low-fat diets, fatty acid composition and weight loss on fibrinolytic parameters, but results were inconsistent. [25][26][27][28][29] There is some suggestion that a low-fat diet could be beneficial in terms of reducing thrombotic potential; however, it is not clear that sodium intake and body weight, two potentially important determinants, were adequately controlled in these studies.…”

How can the Nordic experience be used for nutrition in the future?

“…(56,61) These studies therefore strongly indicate that following a diet in accordance with the NNR beneficially affect the risk factors of CVD. (62)(63)(64) However, the frequency of type 2 diabetes is still increasing, partly due to the number of overweight and obese people.…”