Nuts-and-soy diet better than low-fat diet for lower cholesterol: Study

People who ate a diet rich in foods that lower cholesterol, such as nuts, soy, avocado, olive oil and oats, saw a bigger drop in cholesterol than people on a low-fat diet. -- ST PHOTO: JOSEPH NAIR

WASHINGTON (AFP) - People who ate a diet rich in foods that lower cholesterol, such as nuts, soy, avocado, olive oil and oats, saw a bigger drop in cholesterol than people on a low-fat diet, said a US study on Tuesday.

After six months of eating a diet that specifically included foods that lower LDL cholesterol, the randomised trial showed people experienced a 13 per cent drop in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or 'bad' cholesterol).

Those on a diet that just emphasised low-fat foods, including high-fiber options and whole grains, saw a three percent drop in LDL, said the report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

'This study indicated the potential value of using recognised cholesterol-lowering foods in combination,' said the study. The trial took place at four different sites in Canada - Quebec City, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver - and included 351 participants with elevated cholesterol levels.