The effects of kiwifruit on markers of cardiovascular health in men with high cholesterol levels.

INTERVENTION: Four week run‐in period (healthy diet based on the New Zealand food based dietary guidelines, e.g 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, etc.) 8‐week randomised controlled cross‐over study‐ intervention: 2 green kiwifruit/day + healthy diet (n=80); control: healthy diet + other fruit that they would normally have consumed (n=80); 4 weeks on each with no wash‐out period between interventions (phase 1). Followed by a 4‐week randomised parallel study‐ group one: 2 green kiwifruit/day + healthy diet (n=40); group two: 2 gold kiwifruit/day + healthy diet (n=40) (phase 2). CONDITION: ApoE genotype Dyslipidemia Metabolic factors associated with cardiovascular risk PRIMARY OUTCOME: Serum lipid profiles (serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), total cholesterol/HDL‐C, apolipoprotein A‐1 and apolipoprotein B) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Effects of apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotypes on response to dietary interventions Haemostatic markers including plasma fibrinogen, tissue plasminogen activator activity (tPAact) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 activity (PAI‐1)) and inflammation (C‐reactive protein (CRP)) Markers of glucose metabolism (plasma glucose, serum insulin) INCLUSION CRITERIA: Men; >21 years, non‐smokers, serum LDL‐C>3.0mmol/L, serum triglycerides (TG) < 3.0mmol/L, prepared to eat kiwifruit and a frozen dairy product