It seems maintaining a dietary portfolio really helps in cutting down on LDL levels, here's an evidence.

Abstract

Context Combining foods with recognized cholesterol-lowering properties (dietary portfolio) has proven highly effective in lowering serum cholesterol under metabolically controlled conditions.

Objective To assess the effect of a dietary portfolio administered at 2 levels of intensity on percentage change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) among participants following self-selected diets.

Design, Setting, and Participants A parallel-design study of 351 participants with hyperlipidemia from 4 participating academic centers across Canada (Quebec City, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver) randomized between June 25, 2007, and February 19, 2009, to 1 of 3 treatments lasting 6 months.

Intervention Participants received dietary advice for 6 months on either a low− saturated fat therapeutic diet (control) or a dietary portfolio, for which counseling was delivered at different frequencies, that emphasized dietary incorporation of plant sterols, soy protein, viscous fibers, and nuts. Routine dietary portfolio involved 2 clinic visits over 6 months and intensive dietary portfolio involved 7 clinic visits over 6 months.

Main Outcome Measures Percentage change in serum LDL-C.

Results In the modified intention-to-treat analysis of 345 participants, the overall attrition rate was not significantly different between treatments (18% for intensive dietary portfolio, 23% for routine dietary portfolio, and 26% for control; Fisher exact test, P = .33). The LDL-C reductions from an overall mean of 171 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI], 168-174 mg/dL) were −13.8% (95% CI, −17.2% to −10.3%; P < .001) or −26 mg/dL (95% CI, −31 to −21 mg/dL; P < .001) for the intensive dietary portfolio; −13.1% (95% CI, −16.7% to −9.5%; P < .001) or –24 mg/dL (95% CI, −30 to −19 mg/dL; P < .001) for the routine dietary portfolio; and −3.0% (95% CI, −6.1% to 0.1%; P = .06) or −8 mg/dL (95% CI, −13 to −3 mg/dL; P = .002) for the control diet. Percentage LDL-C reductions for each dietary portfolio were significantly more than the control diet (P < .001, respectively). The 2 dietary portfolio interventions did not differ significantly (P = .66). Among participants randomized to one of the dietary portfolio interventions, percentage reduction in LDL-C on the dietary portfolio was associated with dietary adherence (r = −0.34, n = 157, P < .001).

Conclusion Use of a dietary portfolio compared with the low−saturated fat dietary advice resulted in greater LDL-C lowering during 6 months of follow-up.

Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00438425

via jama.ama-assn.org

Very interesting study particularly in a time when there is an emphasis on the personal quantification and self introspection. A rival hypothesis could be that, a food diary that can be made social on the top of the routine low cholesterol food intake can be even better, but one that needs to be tested. What is the impact of joint diary and diet modification. Before we get into the critique of the full text, this is an interesting study to spend some time on.