Nutritional Status and Coronary Artery Disease: A Cross Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Nutrition is among the most important factors influencing coronary artery disease. OBJECTIVES: Here we aimed to study the nutritional status of patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study on 600 patients referred to a cardiology clinic with the signs of ACS. The patients were then classified in to two groups (CAD group and the normal group) based on angiographic findings. The amount of nutritional profile was questioned from all participants. RESULTS: Men were more often diagnosed with CAD compared to women (198/362 vs. 102/238; P < 0.01). Patients with coronary artery disease were mostly older, smoker, coffee and black tea drinker had a higher BMI and more frequently diagnosed with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes. On the other hand, green tea consumption was seen more in women (92/238 vs. 115/362; P < 0.05) and those with regular physical activity (119/299 vs. 88/301; P < 0.01). Backward regression modeling was employed to study the predictors of CAD. Type of tea and meat remained as one the most important nutritional factors predicting CAD. CONCLUSIONS: White mean and type of tea were the most important predictors of CAD. Dietary prevention strategies from childhood could prevent early CAD.