Fax +41 61 306 12 34 E-Mail karger@karger.ch www.karger.com Original Paper Ann Nutr Metab 2008;52:91–95 DOI: 10.1159/000121364 Effect of Nutrition Intervention on Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors among Tehranian Adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study P. Mirmiran A. Ramezankhani A. Hekmatdoost F. Azizi Endocrine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, M.C., Tehran, Iran lesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels de- creased in both groups. However, the body mass index showed a significant increase in both groups. Adjusted for age, sex, and baseline variables, the cholesterol intake (214 vs. 232 mg/day, p ! 0.05) was significantly lower in the inter- vention as compared with the control group. Conclusions: The present study shows decreases in fasting blood sugar, total serum cholesterol, and daily cholesterol intake after nu- trition interventions. Specific intervention measures, keep- ing in mind cultural and socio-economic factors, could mod- ify dietary patterns and are effective in the primary pre- vention of non-communicable diseases. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel Introduction Cardiovascular disorders are among the most com- mon causes of mortality in the world [1]. Recent studies show a prevalence that has increased from 7% in 1989 [2] to 10.7% in 2001 [3] in Tehran. The most common risk factors include unhealthy diets, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, age, sex, family history, smoking, alcohol consumption, and psychological stress, many of which, such as un- healthy diet, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and hyperlipidaemia, could be prevented [4] . Lifestyle factors, such as physical inactivity and poor diet, promote obesity and thus can indirectly promote cardiovascular disorders. Data from intervention studies Key Words Nutrition intervention, non-communicable disease risk factors  Non-communicable disease risk factors  Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) Abstract Background/Aim: Several epidemiologic studies have shown that many nutritional and non-nutritional risk factors for non-communicable diseases are modifiable. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of nutrition intervention on non-communicable disease risk factors among Tehranian urban adults. Methods: In the Tehran Lip- id and Glucose Study (TLGS), 1,474 subjects, aged 3 years and over, were selected for dietary assessment; nutrition inter- vention was implemented for one third through pamphlets, posters, nutritional consultations, educational courses, and demonstration of films in the community health medical centers, schools, and other public places. After a 3.8-year fol- low-up period, data were collected for 578 subjects, aged 18–74 years, who participated in the second phase of the study; there were 356 subjects in the control group and 222 in the intervention group. Mean body mass index, energy intake, macronutrients, fibre, micronutrients, serum lipids, fasting blood sugar, and systolic and diastolic blood pres- sures were determined in both groups. Results: The mean fasting blood sugar concentrations increased significantly in the control group and decreased significantly in the inter- vention group. Mean diastolic blood pressure and total cho- Received: February 13, 2007 Accepted: June 26, 2007 Published online: March 18, 2008 Fereidoun Azizi, MD Endocrine Research Center Shahid Beheshti University, M.C., PO Box 19395-4763 Tehran (Iran) Tel./Fax +98 21 240 2463, E-Mail azizi@erc.ac.ir © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel 0250–6807/08/0522–0091$24.50/0 Accessible online at: www.karger.com/anm