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The associations between habitual diet and a variety of markers of lipid peroxidation or oxidative stress in a group of 95 healthy comparatively young Finnish volunteers (24 male and 71 females) were investigated. The habitual diet of the subjects was evaluated with a 3-day food record. The following biochemical parameters related to lipid peroxidation or oxidative stress were measured: lagtime of Cu2+ induced LDL oxidation in vitro, lipid hydroperoxides and Schiff bases produced during the LDL oxidation test, malondialdehyde measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances from native LDL and Cu2+ oxidized LDL, serum paraoxonase (PON) activity. Serum PON activity showed most constantly associations with habitual diet. PON activity correlated negatively (r=-0.31 to -0.37) with intake of vegetables, total and water-soluble fiber, as well as intake of beta-carotene. Highly significant difference (P=0.005) in PON activity between lowest (<135 g/day) and highest (>256 g/day) vegetable intake quartiles was found. Malondialdehyde levels showed conflicting associations with diet. The results suggest that the significantly lower PON activity associated with high vegetable intake needs to be studied further.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that a high carbohydrate breakfast with breakfast cereal leads to a meaningful reduction in dietary energy intake from fat, especially from saturated fat, and thus lower serum cholesterol levels., Design: An open randomized controlled cross-over trial. The subjects were randomized into intervention breakfast cereal or usual breakfast (control) groups., Setting: Free-living subjects aged 29-71 y in Eastern Finland, Subjects: 224 enrolled, 209 completed the study. The subjects were recruited from a survey of a random population sample and from other sources, and their serum cholesterol was not lower than 5.0 mmol/l. Recruited persons did not have any chronic disease or very low saturated fat intake., Intervention: The cereal group consumed 80 g (men) or 60 g (women) cereal at breakfast and the control group continued their usual dietary habits for six weeks. After a wash out of six weeks, a cross-over with another six week trial period took place. Measurements (including serum samples and a 3 d food record) took place before and after the two trial periods., Results: The intervention period led to 2.5 en% (energy percent units) reduction in saturated fatty acids intake. The reduction in total fat intake was 5.5 en%. This was compensated for by increased intake of carbohydrates. The reduction in saturated fatty acids intake led to modest (but in group 1 significant) 0.15 mmol/l (2.5%) reduction in total serum cholesterol level., Conclusions: The trial showed that regular cereal breakfast can lead to reduced intake of total and saturated fatty acids of the daily diet and consequently to reduction in serum cholesterol level.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe how nutrient intake and food consumption varied according to education and household income in men and women. The second aim was to find out to what extent the goals of the national dietary guidelines were met in different socioeconomic groups., Design: A random dietary survey using a 3 d estimated food record and a self-administered questionnaire., Setting: Individuals from four different regions in Finland in spring 1992., Subjects: 870 men and 991 women aged 25-64 y., Main Outcome Measures: Food group and nutrient consumption, two saturated fat indices, educational level and household income., Main Results: Men with a higher educational level had a lower energy intake and women with a higher income a lower intake of carbohydrates. The intake of vitamin C and carotenoids increased with increasing socioeconomic status. Otherwise, no socioeconomic differences in energy intake, densities of fat and saturated fat, macronutrient or fibre were found. Higher socioeconomic groups consumed more cheese, vegetables, fruit and berries and candies and less milk, butter and bread., Conclusions: Higher socioeconomic groups did not follow current national dietary guidelines better than lower socioeconomic groups. Higher socioeconomic groups consumed more of the modern recommended foods, such as vegetables and fruit and berries, but less traditional recommended foods, such as bread and potatoes.

Investigates the effects of flaxseed supplementation as a part of daily diet on serum lipids, fatty acids and plasma enterolactone. Measurements of serum lipids, serum thiocyanate, serum cadmium, serum fatty acids and serum enterolactone; Importance of fiber in one's diet; Discussion on enterlactone.