Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling

Abstract Background The Portfolio Diet is a plant-based dietary pattern of cholesterol-lowering foods that has demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other cardiovascular risk factors. However, the Portfolio Diet has not been assessed in an e...

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Main Authors: Victoria Chen, Laura Chiavaroli, Andrea J. Glenn, Meaghan E. Kavanagh, Tara Zeitoun, Sara Mahdavi, Cyril W. C. Kendall, David J. A. Jenkins, Ahmed El-Sohemy, John L. Sievenpiper
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22479-9
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author Victoria Chen
Laura Chiavaroli
Andrea J. Glenn
Meaghan E. Kavanagh
Tara Zeitoun
Sara Mahdavi
Cyril W. C. Kendall
David J. A. Jenkins
Ahmed El-Sohemy
John L. Sievenpiper
author_facet Victoria Chen
Laura Chiavaroli
Andrea J. Glenn
Meaghan E. Kavanagh
Tara Zeitoun
Sara Mahdavi
Cyril W. C. Kendall
David J. A. Jenkins
Ahmed El-Sohemy
John L. Sievenpiper
author_sort Victoria Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The Portfolio Diet is a plant-based dietary pattern of cholesterol-lowering foods that has demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other cardiovascular risk factors. However, the Portfolio Diet has not been assessed in an ethnoculturally diverse population of young adults. Objective To examine the association of the Portfolio Diet Score (PDS) with LDL-C and other established cardiovascular risk factors in a young adult population. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included 1,507 men and women (mean age, 23 ± 3 years) of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study. Diet was assessed by a validated Toronto-modified Harvard 196-item food frequency questionnaire with adherence to the Portfolio Diet measured using the Portfolio Diet Score. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regressions with adjustment for potential confounders. Modeling analyses related LDL-C levels according to absolute adherence to the Portfolio Diet with cumulative LDL-C and onset of rising cardiovascular risk by age. Results Participants were Caucasian (49%), East Asian (34%), South Asian (11%), or other (7%) with a mean LDL-C of 2.3 ± 0.7mmol/L. A 1-point higher PDS and higher PDS tertiles were associated with lower LDL-C (ß [95% CI] per 1-point: -0.009mmol/L [-0.016, -0.002], P = 0.013; Ptrend across tertiles =0.040), non-HDL-C (-0.010mmol/L [-0.018, -0.002], P = 0.014; Ptrend=0.028), total cholesterol (-0.011mmol/L [-0.019, -0.003], P = 0.011; Ptrend=0.038), systolic blood pressure (-0.150mmHg [-0.250, -0.050], P = 0.003; Ptrend<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (-0.133mmHg [-0.219, -0.046], P = 0.003; Ptrend<0.001). Higher PDS tertiles were associated with lower triglycerides (Ptrend=0.039). A 1-point higher PDS was also associated with lower BMI (-0.038 kg/m2 [-0.071, -0.004], P = 0.026), waist circumference (-0.092cm [-0.171, -0.013], P = 0.022), body weight (-0.124 kg [-0.229, -0.019], P = 0.021) and FMI (-0.019 kg/m2 [-0.037, -0.001], P =0.039). There was no association with HDL-C, CRP, or fasting glucose. Modeling analyses suggest that compared to low adherence, 50% and 100% adherence to the Portfolio Diet may delay the onset of rising cardiovascular risk by an estimated 6 and 13 years, respectively. Conclusions Among young adults, the PDS was inversely associated with LDL-C and several other established cardiovascular risk factors. Early adherence to the Portfolio Diet may limit lifetime exposure to LDL-C and could delay the age at which cardiovascular events begin.
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spelling doaj-art-b8460aeecbb042d392635e9c28987ef12025-08-20T02:25:16ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111410.1186/s12889-025-22479-9Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modelingVictoria Chen0Laura Chiavaroli1Andrea J. Glenn2Meaghan E. Kavanagh3Tara Zeitoun4Sara Mahdavi5Cyril W. C. Kendall6David J. A. Jenkins7Ahmed El-Sohemy8John L. Sievenpiper9Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoDepartment of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoAbstract Background The Portfolio Diet is a plant-based dietary pattern of cholesterol-lowering foods that has demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other cardiovascular risk factors. However, the Portfolio Diet has not been assessed in an ethnoculturally diverse population of young adults. Objective To examine the association of the Portfolio Diet Score (PDS) with LDL-C and other established cardiovascular risk factors in a young adult population. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included 1,507 men and women (mean age, 23 ± 3 years) of diverse ethnocultural backgrounds from the Toronto Nutrigenomics and Health Study. Diet was assessed by a validated Toronto-modified Harvard 196-item food frequency questionnaire with adherence to the Portfolio Diet measured using the Portfolio Diet Score. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regressions with adjustment for potential confounders. Modeling analyses related LDL-C levels according to absolute adherence to the Portfolio Diet with cumulative LDL-C and onset of rising cardiovascular risk by age. Results Participants were Caucasian (49%), East Asian (34%), South Asian (11%), or other (7%) with a mean LDL-C of 2.3 ± 0.7mmol/L. A 1-point higher PDS and higher PDS tertiles were associated with lower LDL-C (ß [95% CI] per 1-point: -0.009mmol/L [-0.016, -0.002], P = 0.013; Ptrend across tertiles =0.040), non-HDL-C (-0.010mmol/L [-0.018, -0.002], P = 0.014; Ptrend=0.028), total cholesterol (-0.011mmol/L [-0.019, -0.003], P = 0.011; Ptrend=0.038), systolic blood pressure (-0.150mmHg [-0.250, -0.050], P = 0.003; Ptrend<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (-0.133mmHg [-0.219, -0.046], P = 0.003; Ptrend<0.001). Higher PDS tertiles were associated with lower triglycerides (Ptrend=0.039). A 1-point higher PDS was also associated with lower BMI (-0.038 kg/m2 [-0.071, -0.004], P = 0.026), waist circumference (-0.092cm [-0.171, -0.013], P = 0.022), body weight (-0.124 kg [-0.229, -0.019], P = 0.021) and FMI (-0.019 kg/m2 [-0.037, -0.001], P =0.039). There was no association with HDL-C, CRP, or fasting glucose. Modeling analyses suggest that compared to low adherence, 50% and 100% adherence to the Portfolio Diet may delay the onset of rising cardiovascular risk by an estimated 6 and 13 years, respectively. Conclusions Among young adults, the PDS was inversely associated with LDL-C and several other established cardiovascular risk factors. Early adherence to the Portfolio Diet may limit lifetime exposure to LDL-C and could delay the age at which cardiovascular events begin.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22479-9Portfolio DietLDL-CCardiovascular risk factorsCumulative exposurePrimordial preventionYoung adults
spellingShingle Victoria Chen
Laura Chiavaroli
Andrea J. Glenn
Meaghan E. Kavanagh
Tara Zeitoun
Sara Mahdavi
Cyril W. C. Kendall
David J. A. Jenkins
Ahmed El-Sohemy
John L. Sievenpiper
Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling
BMC Public Health
Portfolio Diet
LDL-C
Cardiovascular risk factors
Cumulative exposure
Primordial prevention
Young adults
title Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling
title_full Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling
title_fullStr Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling
title_full_unstemmed Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling
title_short Portfolio diet and LDL-C in a young, multiethnic cohort: cross-sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling
title_sort portfolio diet and ldl c in a young multiethnic cohort cross sectional analyses with cumulative exposure modeling
topic Portfolio Diet
LDL-C
Cardiovascular risk factors
Cumulative exposure
Primordial prevention
Young adults
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22479-9
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