Overview of the Oslo Diet Heart Study

The Oslo Diet Heart Study is a landmark trial that focuses on the relationship between diet, blood cholesterol levels, and coronary heart disease. The study includes 412 men aged 30 to 64 who had previously experienced a myocardial infarction. The intervention group received dietary advice aimed at reducing saturated and animal fats, increasing polyunsaturated fat intake, and making other dietary modifications. The control group did not receive any specific dietary advice. The intervention group achieved a significant reduction in serum cholesterol levels, with an average reduction of 17%. At the five-year follow-up, the intervention group experienced a lower incidence of myocardial infarctions and total coronary heart disease relapses compared to the control group. The risk reduction became statistically significant after the third year. The trial also showed that the magnitude of cholesterol reduction influenced the risk of relapse, particularly in participants under 60 years old. At the 11-year follow-up, the intervention group still had a significantly lower coronary heart disease mortality rate compared to the control group. The study demonstrated the importance of lower blood cholesterol levels in reducing the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.