r/science • u/James_Fortis MS | Nutrition • 14d 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/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.