The paper reviews the modern literature on the role of dietary lipids in the development and control of hypercholesterolemia, as a diet-dependent cardiovascular risk factor. The author presents historical evidence and the position of leading medical professional bodies on the use of diets with different lipid components in primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. The paper also discusses the results of original studies and meta-analyses on the importance of fatty acids of different chain length, configuration, and saturation for the levels of cardiovascular risk.

In total 256 patients with arterial hypertension were examined in one of the districts of out-patients clinic. Preventive clinical investigation revealed high frequency of nutrition disorders, overweight, obesity and hypercholesterolemia. On the base of these results necessary size and character of dieteologic intervention were evaluated. 90.2% patients with arterial hypertension need overweight and obesity correction, 90.3%--correction of hypercholesterolemia. It was determined that by majority patients recommendations must be aimed to decrease of fat consumption, cholesterol, simple carbohydrates, salt and vegetables and fruits.

Specialization computers programme investigation of dietary risk factors in organized population of universities employers revealed high abundance of this behavior chronic disease risk factors: disturbances of dietary regimen, high salt intake, high intake of saturated fats (butter) and eggs. The study showed significant relationship between abdominal obesity and high blood pressure, total plasma cholesterol also was significantly higher in persons with abdominal obesity.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the alimentary disorders in patients with high risk for cardiovascular diseases, also in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and njn--insulin-diabetes mellitus (DM). The results showed that patients with AH (155 patients) and DM (107 patients) have high prevalence of the alimentary disorders: high consumption of total fat--46% (DM) and 70.9% (AH), high consumption of carbohydrates--14.9% and 73%, salt intake--34.9% and 68.6%, respectively. Application of special training programs in groups provided stable modification of dietary habits and was more effective, compared with the traditional ones. These groups demonstrated better results in dietary habits modification, compared with the existing routine individual medical control groups.

With use of a method of daily reproduction at representative sample of an unorganized population of inhabitants of Moscow the sources of energy value and contribution of various products to supply organism by the basic food substances (protein, fats, carbohydrates and cholesterol) are investigated. Is established that the nutrition structure is obviously debalanced. More quarters of daily diet energy is provided for consumption of animal fats and simple sugars. Is shown that the main part of fat (2/3) enters in organism as the "latent" fats of animal products, the fats "in the pure form" half consist from butters. The main source of the saturated fats and cholesterol for men are meat, and for women--the dairy products. 12% researched refuse purified sugars.

On the basis of three-multiple research of character of a feed of the inhabitants of one of Moscow district by the standardized method of the 24-th hour interrogation reveals significant changes in structure of a feed of the population from 1986 to 1996. The shifts have appeared more dynamical in the second five-year from 1991 to 1996. Nevertheless, atherogenicity of ration of a researched population with superfluous consumption of the saturated fats and simple carbohydrates remains. Is established, in a feed of the women there were large shifts, than at the men. The structure of a feed of the inhabitants of Moscow differed from structure of a feed of the inhabitants of Russia.

When studying a nutrition status of patients with disturbance of carbohydrates tolerance and diabetes, high correlation between intake of carbohydrates, body mass, lipid and carbohydrates metabolism and blood pressure was found.

Dietary intake was studied in 295 of Moscow's residents by 24-hour recall method. High level of animal fat, sugar and cholesterol (Ch) were found in diet of man and women. Energy intake of men is higher than that of women at the expense of animal fat and protein. Women consume less amount of cholesterol-containing food. The levels of serum Ch, HDLP-Ch, triglycerides are in close relation with blood pressure values. The levels of serum Ch, HDLP-Ch, systolic and diastolic blood pressure are connected with variables of age and body mass index.

A total of 92 males aged 28 to 55 years were examined. These included 28 apparently healthy individuals, 45 subjects with preclinical coronary heart disease and 19 patients with Functional Class I-II coronary heart disease. A special questionnaire was used to examine the dietary patterns of the subjects with preclinical coronary heart disease, i.e. those having no typical clinical signs of the disease, but showing signs of myocardial infarction during the maximum exercise testing and minimal coronary arterial changes at selective coronary angiography. The subjects, unlike healthy individuals and CHD patients, were found to have 1 or 2 meals a day, frequently late at night, consume large amounts of sugar and other candies, fatty milk products, butter, eggs; small quantities of vegetables, fruits, and fish, often put additional amounts of salt to their diet. The subjects, as patients with severe CHD but unlike healthy individuals, were shown to have hypercholesterolemia and display high low density lipoprotein and apo-lipoprotein B levels; apo B/apo A being more than 1. The above dietary patterns of subjects with preclinical CHD represent one of the causes of abnormal changes in the blood lipid profile, which result in further CHD development.