Lifestyle modification helps to reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Introduction: The morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease are high in developed countries. Lifestyle modification is capable of reducing cardiovascular disease-related morbidity and mortality by 50%. Aim: The aim of the present study was to measure the parameters of some risk factors before and after one-week reconditioning and rehabilitation programs without stress, with low-fat, low-energy lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet and exercise. These programs were run for a total of 25 weeks from 1999 through 2005. Methods: A total of 1,065 volunteers (272 men, 893 women), with a mean age of 50.8 ± 14 years, took part in the one-week programs. The parameters determined in the participants before and after the program included body weight, height, BMI, blood pressure (BP), heart rate, total cholesterol, and blood glucose. Results: The one-week programs resulted in decreases in the following parameters (number of participants with available data): body weight (1,046), from 71.0 ± 14.2 to 70.3 ± 13.9 kg; BMI (878), from 24.9 ± 4.54 to 24.7 ± 4.38 kg/m2; systolic BP (1,037) from 130 ± 23.3 to 123.9 ± 21.6 mmHg; diastolic BP (1,029), from 80.0 ± 12.8 to 77.6 ± 11.2 mmHg (p < 0.0001); serum cholesterol (834), from 4.87 ± 0.97 to 4.31 ± 0.78 mmol/L; and blood glucose (409), from 4.26 ± 1.62 to 3.82 ± 1.3 mmol/L (p < 0.0001). No significant change in heart rate was seen. Compared with controls, the values were lower in lacto-ovo-vegetarians and in Seventh Day Adventists. Discussion and conclusion: In the relevant literature, similar results were reported in individuals attending 3- to 4-week programs. Our data showed that one-week intake of a low-fat low-energy diet in a stress-free setting led to a reduction of risk factors of cardiovascular disease.