Recipe for Heart Health

Recipe for Heart Health: A Plant-Based Culinary Diet Intervention to Test Independent Benefits of Olive Oil

The overall objectives of this project are to compare clinical parameters in moderate risk Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) patients following a Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) diet containing a high (4 TB) compared to a low (<1 tsp) amount of raw extra virgin olive oil.

Up to sixty-eight primary prevention outpatient adults with intermediate to high ASCVD risk factors will be randomized in a crossover fashion to follow a WFPB diet without animal products that is either high (4 tablespoons) or low (< ~1 teaspoon) in raw extra virgin olive oil. After confirming eligibility and patients provide consent, the research team will randomize the participant at the baseline visit. The baseline visit and run-in visit 1 will follow as described below. With the intent of recruiting cohorts of ten, a group of participants will subsequently begin the first Whole Food Plant Based culinary diet intervention for four weeks, followed by a one-week (+ 3 days) washout period before switching to the opposite oil diet for an additional four weeks. During each of the 4-week interventions, participants will attend weekly cooking sessions that align with the dietary intervention with a registered dietitian. Patients will be asked to maintain levels of physical activity through the duration of the study. Data will be collected at the patient's cardiology visits before and after each diet intervention for a total of four in-person visits excluding the screening visit.

There will be a total of 4 in-person clinic visits as well as 8 weekly remote cooking classes and individual sessions with a registered dietitian. Subject will first have a physical exam, have their blood (about 3 tablespoons) and urine collected, complete surveys, and talk about their eating style and meal planning. Subject will then follow a plant-based diet high in olive oil for 4 weeks before switching to the other type of diet for 4 weeks.

There will be a total of 4 in-person clinic visits as well as 8 weekly remote cooking classes and individual sessions with a registered dietitian. Subject will first have a physical exam, have their blood (about 3 tablespoons) and urine collected, complete surveys, and talk about their eating style and meal planning. Subject will then follow a plant-based diet low in olive oil for 4 weeks before switching to the other type of diet for 4 weeks.

Subjects will be randomized to either high or low dose of olive oil and follow a whole food plant based diet.

Inclusion Criteria: -Adult patients with borderline to high risk for ASCVD Exclusion Criteria: -Adult patients with known cardiovascular disease