No abstract

In a prospective epidemiologic study of 1001 middle-aged men, we examined the relation between dietary information collected approximately 20 years ago and subsequent mortality from coronary heart disease. The men were initially enrolled in three cohorts: one of men born and living in Ireland, another of those born in Ireland who had emigrated to Boston, and the third of those born in the Boston area of Irish immigrants. There were no differences in mortality from coronary heart disease among the three cohorts. In within-population analyses, those who died of coronary heart disease had higher Keys (P = 0.06) and modified Hegsted (P = 0.02) dietary scores than did those who did not (a high score indicates a high intake of saturated fatty acids and cholesterol and a relatively low intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids). These associations were significant (P = 0.03 for the Keys and P = 0.04 for the modified Hegsted scores) after adjustment for other risk factors for coronary heart disease. Fiber intake (P = 0.04) and a vegetable-foods score, which rose with increased intake of fiber, vegetable protein, and starch (P = 0.02), were lower among those who died from coronary heart disease, though not significantly so after adjustment for other risk factors. A higher Keys score carried an increased risk of coronary heart disease (relative risk, 1.60), and a higher fiber intake carried a decreased risk (relative risk, 0.57). Overall, these results tend to support the hypothesis that diet is related, albeit weakly, to the development of coronary heart disease.

No abstract

Atherosclerosis has been produced in Cebus monkeys by dietary means. This disease has been produced by feeding diets high in cholesterol and low in sulfur amino acids over periods of 18 to 30 weeks. Within 2 to 8 weeks this regimen caused the concentration of cholesterol in the serum to rise to 300 to 800 mg. per cent. The hypercholesterolemia could be largely prevented by feeding 1 gm. per day of dl-methionine or l-cystine as supplements to the diet. After the serum concentration had become elevated, it could be restored to normal by feeding 1 gm. of dl-methionine but only partially restored by 0.5 gm. of l-cystine daily. The vascular lesions were in the ascending aorta but extended from the valves of the left ventricle to the proximal portions of the carotid and femoral arteries. Minimal lesions have been observed in the coronary arteries. The aortic lesions were chiefly characterized by the presence of lipid-laden phagocytes and increase in collagen and elastic fibers. The lipids were in part cholesterol derivatives. Visceral cholesterolosis was not associated with this disease.

A report to the American Heart Association and to the American Society for the Study of Arteriosclerosis the Nutrition Committee of the Council on Community Service and Education of the American Heart Association and others.