The Health Effects of a Diet Rich in Plant-based Foods and Fish. Focus on Nordic Foods, 2015

In this project the associations between dietary factors and indicators of cardiovascular disease risk were investigated. The health effects of single foods as well as whole diets were investigated in human intervention trials. The project was a collaboration with National Public Health Institute in Finland. Initial collaboration between the research groups has been ongoing since 2005. The project is a randomized controlled study over 15 years.

The population-based study investigated men and women who participated in the Health 2000 Survey (substudy for cardiovascular disease and diabetes). Associations was explored between a diet rich in plant-based foods and fish, different nutritional biomarkers, and indicators of cardiovascular disease risk. The modifying effects of selected genetic polymorphisms, as well as differences between genders, are studied. Furthermore, a Healthy Nordic Eating Index was constructed and tested, several biomarkers were measured, and three dietary intervention trials were performed. In one trial, the effects of berry and fish consumption were investigated. In another trial, the effects of a diet containing whole grain, fruits, vegetables and coffee, was explored. Whether synergistic effects are observed by the addition of fish and rapeseed oil to such a diet was also studied. During the interventions, blood pressure was measured and blood samples collected for the analysis of various biomarkers, as well as whole genome DNA microarrays. The aim was to identify the factors responsible for the health effects of diets rich in plant-based foods and long chain fatty acids.