Summary
This randomised controlled trial by Jenkins and colleagues, published in JAMA in 2011, evaluated the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of the Portfolio diet under varying levels of dietary counselling in hyperlipidaemic participants. The trial likely demonstrated that the Portfolio dietary pattern produced clinically meaningful reductions in LDL cholesterol compared with a control diet, with more intensive counselling associated with greater adherence and effect. The findings support the potential of dietary combination strategies as an adjunct or alternative to pharmacological lipid-lowering interventions.
UK applicability
Although conducted in Canada, the findings are broadly applicable to UK clinical nutrition practice and align with NHS dietary guidance for cardiovascular disease prevention; the Portfolio diet components — nuts, soy, plant sterols, and soluble fibre — are widely available in the UK food supply.
Key measures
LDL cholesterol (mmol/L); total cholesterol; HDL cholesterol; triglycerides; C-reactive protein; blood pressure
Outcomes reported
The study measured the effect of a Portfolio diet — combining plant sterols, soy protein, viscous fibres, and nuts — on LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk markers. It assessed whether dietary counselling intensity influenced the magnitude of cholesterol-lowering achieved.
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