Abstract
Background and Aims: To develop functional foods which
are capable of reducing key risk factors for coronary heart disease
in an at risk population. The specific hypothesis tested here
was that providing bread, cracker biscuits and snack bars fortified
with DHA (long-chain omega 3) and soya-protein would
have a positive impact on cholesterol and blood pressure.
Methods and Results: A pragmatic, double-blind, factorial
placebo-controlled randomised trial recruiting 213 middleaged
men and women with untreated elevated total cholesterol
or blood pressure. The factors examined were the effect of giving
supplies of bread, cereal bars and cracker biscuits fortified
with 2 g fish oils (DHA, 22: 6n-3), or 25 g soya-protein (conraining
50 mg of isoflavonoids) for five weeks. Primary and
secondary outcomes included total, low-density and high-density
cholesterol (HDL-C), and systolic and diastolic blood
pressure. Compliance was assessed using biomarkers and food
intake histories. DHA enriched foods increased HDL-C by
6.0% (95% CI2.5%, 9.6%) but had no effect on totaI or lowdensity
cholesterol or blood pressure. Overall, soya-protein
did not influence any of the outcomes assessed. However, in
women only, soya-protein increased systolic blood pressure
by5.9% (95% CI1.73,9.9%).
Key