Maturitas 55 (2006) 338–347 Nutrition education in postmenopausal women: Changes in dietary and cardiovascular indices Yannis Manios ∗ , George Moschonis, Evangelia Grammatikaki, Ioanna Katsaroli, Paraskevi Kanelou, Sofia Tanagra Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, 70, El.Venizelou Ave, 176 71 Kallithea, Athens, Greece Received 7 January 2006; received in revised form 9 May 2006; accepted 16 May 2006 Abstract Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine whether a diet rich in dairy products followed by a nutrition education program for the prevention of osteoporosis could have any adverse effect on certain cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors over a 5-month intervention period. Methods: A total sample of 82 women (55–65 years old) was randomized to a dietary intervention group (IG: n = 42), attending biweekly nutrition education program and provided with low-fat, fortified dairy products and to a control group (CG: n = 40). Changes in dietary, biochemical and clinical indices related to CVD were determined at the end of the 5-month intervention period. Results: The IG was found to have a higher decrease in the percentage of energy intake derived from total fat and a higher increase in the intake of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium compared to the CG (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the IG subjects were found to have a lower increase in BMI (0.7 ± 0.1 versus 1.4 ± 0.2 Kg/m 2 , p = 0.011) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (2.5 ± 2.9 versus 7.8 ± 2.2 mmHg, p = 0.040) and a higher decrease in serum total cholesterol (-5.2 ± 3.3 versus 6.9 ± 5.1 mg/dl, p = 0.042) and LDL-cholesterol levels (-20.0 ± 2.6 versus -12.4 ± 4.2 mg/dl, p = 0.034) compared to the CG. Conclusions: The findings of the current study indicate that a dietary intervention aiming to minimize the risk for osteoporosis did not have any adverse effects on CVD risk factors. On the contrary, it has induced favourable changes in BMI, serum lipids and SBP. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Intervention; Diet; Blood pressure; Postmenopausal Health Study; Serum lipids 1. Introduction The seven-country study in 1960s indicated that Greece had the lowest mortality rates from cardio- ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +30 210 9549156; fax: +30 210 9549141. E-mail address: manios@hua.gr (Y. Manios). vascular disease (CVD) compared to the other coun- tries participating in that first multi-centre nutritional epidemiological study [1]. These low rates had been attributed primarily to the dietary habits of the pop- ulation, which favoured a high fruit, vegetable and olive oil intake. However, before the end of the previ- ous century Greece had one of the most rapidly rising death rates due to CVD, which became the primary 0378-5122/$ – see front matter © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2006.05.006