Impact of Alpine Dairy Products on Blood Lipid Levels

University of Fribourg29 enrolled

Overview

Elevated blood lipid levels are one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. To manage elevated blood lipid levels in otherwise healthy people at low risk of cardiovascular disease, lifestyle changes are recommended as the first treatment strategy. One of these changes concerns diet. Clinical observations by general practitioners in alpine regions of Switzerland have shown that consumption of dairy products produced from cows living and grazing at high altitudes can have a beneficial effect on blood lipid parameters. However, little clinical data is available on the effect of alpine dairy products on health-related markers. This pilot study aims to assess if replacing standard (non-alpine) dairy products by alpine dairy products in the daily diet among patients with elevated LDL-cholesterol levels could reduce the blood LDL-cholesterol levels.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Elevated Cholesterol

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years old * Elevated lipid levels, namely: fasting LDL-cholesterol \>3mmol/L and \</=5mmol/L * Agreeing to eat 3 portions of dairy products daily (according to instructions) Exclusion Criteria: * Eating less than two and more than six portions of dairy products daily * Body weight change +/-5% of body weight in the last three months * Secondary prevention treatment for cardiovascular disease * Moderate, high or very high cardiovascular risk according to AGLA score * Currently taking PSCK9-inhibitors, ezetimibe, statins, glucocorticoids * Poorly controlled, severe chronic renal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, cholestasis, nephrotic syndrome, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, Cushing syndrome * Myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting in the previous 6 months * Known lactose intolerance or dairy allergies * Change of diet less than 2 months before intervention * Pregnant or breastfeeding * Incapacity of judgement * Inability to speak and read German

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in fasting blood LDL-cholesterol level

Measure of LDL-cholesterol in mmol/L

Time frame: Baseline, Day 15, Day 30 and Day 45

Secondary Outcomes

Change in total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and lipoprotein A

Measures in mmol/L