Comparative analysis of responses of metabolic markers, atherogenesis and insulin resistance to the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet DICA-Br in secondary cardiovascular prevention

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, morbidity and mortality due to CVD represent relevant public health problem. The mechanisms of atherogenesis involve inflammation and insulin resistance. Considering that healthy habits are able to reduce cardiovascular events and the low compliance to healthy diet, the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet DICA-Br was proposed using concept of energy and nutrients density to help dietary guidance. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of DICA-Br with the usual food orientation delivered by the public health system to traditional risk factors, circulating biomarkers of atherogenesis and insulin resistance index, in sub-study sample of the main study. The sample consisted of 212 adults with overt atherosclerosis, randomly allocated to the DICA-Br or Control group (usual dietary guidelines used in SUS). The differential of DICA-Br is that it includes Brazilian foods and the innovative educational strategy. At baseline and after 6 months of interventions, clinical data and fasting glucose, insulin, lipids, CRP, MCP-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin concentrations were obtained and compared by Student t test or the non-parametric correspondent ones.