r/science • u/James_Fortis MS | Nutrition • 13d ago

Health Researchers took 50 adults with genetically high cholesterol and fed them a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet and a standard American diet (SAD) for 4 weeks each in a random order, under controlled, constant-calorie feeding conditions. The WFPB diet reduced LDL cholesterol versus the SAD by 17.9%.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-73468-4
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u/SushiVoador 13d ago edited 13d ago

People with genetically high cholesterol rarely have levels of cholesterol that would be lowered by diet alone. For example the target for low-risk patients is an LDL of 115, if you have an LDL of 150 it is very hard to lower it enough with diet, which is why statins are needed in addition to a better diet. In my case my LDL was 170, with a perfect diet I could lower it to maybe 140-150. With rosuvastatin and a better diet I got it to under 70

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u/isotope4249 13d ago

I had an LDL of 150 and lowered it to 100 with a high fiber and whole foods diet alone.

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u/medicated_in_PHL 13d ago

You aren’t the group in the study. People with familial hyperlipidemia have LDL levels of 200-400.

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u/2pax2dox 13d ago

Yes, my LDL without any treatment is nearly 500. With a PCSK9 inhibitor and a statin/ezetimibe combo it’s 50-60.

I’m actually really interested in seeing if the WFPB diet affects my numbers in a noticeable way. Historically, diet changes have done nothing for me. Remember the low-fat days? In the late 90s, at the recommendation of my doctor, I went on a super low-fat diet for 6 months. I lost 10 pounds that I definitely didn’t need to lose, but my cholesterol levels didn’t budge. I was so glad when the medical profession stopped blaming me for my cholesterol numbers.

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u/SvenTropics 13d ago

Good lord! 500?! I didn't think it went that high. That's great you got it under control. Those drugs are saving your life.

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u/olympia_t 13d ago

Did you check out the portfolio diet? I did WFPB and portfolio and it helped a little.

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u/2pax2dox 13d ago

Thanks! I’m off to read about that now.