JAMA February 2006 PMID 16467234

Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial.

Barbara V Howard, Linda Van Horn, Judith Hsia, JoAnn E Manson, Marcia L Stefanick, Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Lewis H Kuller, Andrea Z LaCroix, Robert D Langer, Norman L Lasser, Cora E Lewis, Marian C Limacher, Karen L Margolis, W Jerry Mysiw, Judith K Ockene

Mentions

154
Peak: 26 in May 2021
across 6 sources since Jun 2019

Extended reach

98,614
potential audience

Total likes

429

Video views

1,316

Mentions per month

Jun 2019 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News66 articles
  • X / Twitter42 posts
  • Facebook28 posts
  • Blogs12 articles
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Several discussions reference the surprising outcome that reducing fat did not lower cardiovascular risks, with posts criticizing the study for its focus on LDL levels and emphasizing that 'control group did better.' The tone varies from skeptical to analytical, with some posts citing specific data and others questioning the study's implications for dietary guidelines, demonstrating a high interest and critical engagement overall.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

The discussions display mixed reactions, with some posts questioning the validity of the findings, while others acknowledge the study's rigorous design but express surprise at the results.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest, illustrated by references to detailed studies, mentions of specific data, and critical analysis, indicating active engagement with the research.

EngagementModerate engagement

Many comments delve into methodological critiques, cite related studies, and debate dietary fat's role, reflecting a moderate level of deep critical engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The overall tone suggests the study has a notable impact, challenging existing dietary beliefs and prompting widespread controversy and discussion in the community.

Abstract in brief

  • This study tested whether a low-fat diet high in vegetables, fruits, and grains could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women, based on long-term data from the Women's Health Initiative.
  • Results showed that after six years, women in the intervention group significantly reduced their fat intake and slightly increased their consumption of healthy foods, leading to improvements in some health markers like LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and factor VIIc, but did not significantly change HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, or insulin levels.
  • Despite these dietary changes and risk factor improvements, there was no significant reduction in the actual rates of coronary heart disease, stroke, or combined cardiovascular events between the intervention and comparison groups over the follow-up period.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Tim Rees
@NutritionalThe3 · X

After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO BENEFITS in CHD, CVD etc, despite lower LDL levels. In fact, control group did better. (higher LDL) https://t.co/6mbqAkTkRe

May 7, 2021 · 87 likes · 30 shares · 4,923 followers View post →
Shaun Ward
@MyNutritionSci · X

@DrAndyGalpin These are the "go-to" for omega-6 human interventions with poor outcomes. All have pretty major flaws. https://t.co/Qpgr5Urvqa https://t.co/UlGzbCAyv9 https://t.co/Mh8YN0upOO https://t.co/9HiucR9S3D

Feb 11, 2021 · 6 likes · 2,390 followers View post →
thalesnemo
@thalesnemo · X

@G2172909963 @drtejallathia @saaiyer @shashiiyengar Humans became human by eating meats ! There are ZERO dietary essential carbohydrates needed in the human diet ! https://t.co/jHQSZRw43j ➡️ https://t.co/sCCJokqK8z ➡️ https://t.co/jJHXBYJDgv ➡️ https://t.co/yUCwWzOruY➡️ https://t.co/OE8ND8RIw3 ➡️ https://t.co/PYVM93ZBej

Jul 18, 2021 · 2 likes · 1,109 followers View post →
HailBones666
@HailBones666 · X

>to find a mean fat intake reduction of 8.2%, then said they CVD effects were “modest”. Of course they were. Your participants didn’t meet the basic requirement of your testing goal. CVD study: https://t.co/ewijMUmxgi Weight loss study: https://t.co/amKavHyqit >

Jul 8, 2021 · 1 like · 1,774 followers View post →
Jim
@JimeeLiberty · X

@grok @MasalaFry69 @boycrazystacy2 Lowering saturated fat lead to an increased rate of heart disease by 47% to 61%. https://t.co/5S3tUpOZ2C https://t.co/DxUWbvhovm https://t.co/LdVy2wftxr https://t.co/ubFrZel0Bf

Jul 18, 2025 · 1 like · 1,416 followers View post →
thalesnemo
@thalesnemo · X

@JTayScience @REV_Insulin_Res Star Trek logical thinking -10 Argumentum Ad Vercundiam ( Appeal to Authority) https://t.co/9kZTiN2JHC ➡️ https://t.co/Gj5p60eltr ➡️https://t.co/oB2oR4MYHq ➡️ https://t.co/yUCwWzOruY ➡️ https://t.co/zJCNwDFVgb

Mar 13, 2022 · 1 like · 1,109 followers View post →

All mentions

Lemasive Förklarar
@LemasiveSwe · X

@fenixlarare https://t.co/kwkiqdBgiB https://t.co/hnk03nn4yt https://t.co/BbLxQy5R2L https://t.co/VnJRHZ4MoH https://t.co/UCxcLvr7wm https://t.co/doHRIGRjbv

Oct 3, 2025 · 15 followers View post →
Jim
@JimeeLiberty · X

@grok @MasalaFry69 @boycrazystacy2 Lowering saturated fat lead to an increased rate of heart disease by 47% to 61%. https://t.co/5S3tUpOZ2C https://t.co/DxUWbvhovm https://t.co/LdVy2wftxr https://t.co/ubFrZel0Bf

Jul 18, 2025 · 1 like · 1,416 followers View post →
Peter Österberg, Ph.D.
@Genlearnman · X

@hblwebb @AMPajari "En animalisk kost kan också innehålla ... onödigt mycket mättat fett" (@AMPajari). Hm, på riktigt

Mar 27, 2024 · 1,417 followers View post →
Peter Österberg, Ph.D.
@Genlearnman · X

@johansvensson82 @arlasverige Ja, de har väl blandat i rapsolja? Det borde ingen äta. Smör och andra animaliska fetter är bra för fysisk och mental hälsa (Ede, 2019) https://t.co/8cnkxeYvUp (Howard et al 2006) https://t.co/2VdQfDHJ8T

Feb 29, 2024 · 1,417 followers View post →
Jeremy Hannan
@bionicsloth_ · X

@FearZero4 @CarnivoreDad @skydog576 @SBakerMD 2 largest-ever NIH-funded, RCTs, concluded that sat fats had no effect on cardiovascular mortality or total mortality. A 2016 analysis shows 22% higher risk for each 30 mg/dL reduction in serum cholesterol. https://t.co/kvrLK71eEe https://t.co/UpEQUhnPX2 https://t.co/ooUoRPm8DX

Feb 6, 2023 · 1 like · 106 followers View post →
Butter Fueled
@ButterFueled · X

@Tellit007 @SamaHoole Many studies to show there's little to no concern with consuming animal products (meat or fat) and LDL https://t.co/gZuj1i6TEg https://t.co/EU10ASP73H https://t.co/jOf1nJYdWu https://t.co/7JxO5vQNjx https://t.co/lbVYVog484 https://t.co/fWeyIXcd7u https://t.co/AHlnUrPfpo

Sep 18, 2022 · 1,861 followers View post →
thalesnemo
@thalesnemo · X

@JTayScience @REV_Insulin_Res Star Trek logical thinking -10 Argumentum Ad Vercundiam ( Appeal to Authority) https://t.co/9kZTiN2JHC ➡️ https://t.co/Gj5p60eltr ➡️https://t.co/oB2oR4MYHq ➡️ https://t.co/yUCwWzOruY ➡️ https://t.co/zJCNwDFVgb

Mar 13, 2022 · 1 like · 1,109 followers View post →
Hisako
@Hisako75262080 · X

“癌を減らすために低脂肪で野菜、果物、穀物を多く含むことを目的とした食事が心血管疾患のリスクを減らすという仮説を検証すること。" 低脂肪の食事パターンと心血管疾患のリスク:女性の健康イニシアチブのランダム化比較試験 #赤身肉 #ヴィーガン #vegan #菜食 #癌 https://t.co/fniNrkn4NN

Feb 12, 2022 · 1 like · 118 followers View post →
thalesnemo
@thalesnemo · X

@PlantsRunning @KenDBerryMD A single case if true means nothing since it states nothing about confounders ! 1️⃣ https://t.co/jHQSZRw43j 2️⃣ https://t.co/3ePbh9nWlX 3️⃣ https://t.co/zTL6p84Em4 4️⃣ https://t.co/Gw4pI71cIg 5️⃣ https://t.co/Gj5p60eltr 6️⃣ https://t.co/oB2oR4MYHq 7️⃣ https://t.co/yUCwWzOruY

Dec 27, 2021 · 1,109 followers View post →
thalesnemo
@thalesnemo · X

@G2172909963 @drtejallathia @saaiyer @shashiiyengar Humans became human by eating meats ! There are ZERO dietary essential carbohydrates needed in the human diet ! https://t.co/jHQSZRw43j ➡️ https://t.co/sCCJokqK8z ➡️ https://t.co/jJHXBYJDgv ➡️ https://t.co/yUCwWzOruY➡️ https://t.co/OE8ND8RIw3 ➡️ https://t.co/PYVM93ZBej

Jul 18, 2021 · 2 likes · 1,109 followers View post →
HailBones666
@HailBones666 · X

>to find a mean fat intake reduction of 8.2%, then said they CVD effects were “modest”. Of course they were. Your participants didn’t meet the basic requirement of your testing goal. CVD study: https://t.co/ewijMUmxgi Weight loss study: https://t.co/amKavHyqit >

Jul 8, 2021 · 1 like · 1,774 followers View post →
thalesnemo
@thalesnemo · X

@TylerCartwright @mosca_matthew @BiggestComeback @NutritionMadeS3 No the official dietary guidelines and the background dietary advise has been proven to be wrong and based on lies . Paid the price never again ! I do what I’ve subjected to my own testable hypothesis to see if it valid . https://t.co/oB2oR4MYHq ➡️ https://t.co/yUCwWzOruY

Jun 1, 2021 · 1,109 followers View post →
dr roth
@mrc314 · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 10, 2021 · 30 shares · 8,945 followers View post →
LALA HUTCHISON
@lala_hutchison · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 8, 2021 · 30 shares · 40 followers View post →
Kimberly Alice
@kimberlyaliceMT · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 8, 2021 · 30 shares · 723 followers View post →
Solomon Asare
@SolomonKAsare · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 8, 2021 · 30 shares · 394 followers View post →
د.دلال أسامة الكاظمي
@Dalal_Alkazemi · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 4,574 followers View post →
@circadianRX
@annavwellness · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 3,307 followers View post →
My Rights stand
@Dedicatedlyfirm · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 4,975 followers View post →
James Bernard
@jamesabernard · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 2,413 followers View post →
Marc_Jardiner
@Marc_Jardiner · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 453 followers View post →
Melissa Goddeau, RDN, CDN
@MelissaGoddeau · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 67 followers View post →
Roxana Soetebeer, MPHC NNP MHP PFC
@REV_Insulin_Res · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 19,452 followers View post →
Muzzpol
@Muzzpol · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 861 followers View post →
Leonel Posas
@leonelposasmd · X

Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification Trial - PubMed https://t.co/4ztOHv1pLW

May 7, 2021 · 375 followers View post →
Andy Reynolds
@oit_andy · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 1,727 followers View post →
Alex Ricci
@AlexRicci_X · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 726 followers View post →
Tom Andersen
@twitevit · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 1,836 followers View post →
ENDALA klinika zdraví
@endalaclinic · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 252 followers View post →
Jan Vyjidak
@janvyjidak · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 4,152 followers View post →
Tom Englezos
@tomenglezos · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 1,275 followers View post →
krysia_learner
@krysia_learner · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 240 followers View post →
Carl Thomas Ball
@carltball122219 · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 169 followers View post →
Larry Diamond
@natureboyrr · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 5,625 followers View post →
Deborah Gordon, M.D.
@DrDeborahMD · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 3,761 followers View post →
DMDent
@DMDent · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 2,884 followers View post →
David Wyant
@wyadvd · X

RT @NutritionalThe3: After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO…

May 7, 2021 · 30 shares · 2,691 followers View post →
Tim Rees
@NutritionalThe3 · X

After +8 years of a low(er) fat, higher fruits, vegetables & grains diet, the intervention group (n=19541) showed NO BENEFITS in CHD, CVD etc, despite lower LDL levels. In fact, control group did better. (higher LDL) https://t.co/6mbqAkTkRe

May 7, 2021 · 87 likes · 30 shares · 4,923 followers View post →
naimsufi
@naeeemmm · X

- Women’s Health Initiative, a dietary intervention to test low-fat diet with cancer and CVD risks found no association between replacement of SF with carbohydrates https://t.co/jpJ1JV3gVM

Mar 8, 2021 · 2,184 followers View post →
Shaun Ward
@MyNutritionSci · X

@DrAndyGalpin These are the "go-to" for omega-6 human interventions with poor outcomes. All have pretty major flaws. https://t.co/Qpgr5Urvqa https://t.co/UlGzbCAyv9 https://t.co/Mh8YN0upOO https://t.co/9HiucR9S3D

Feb 11, 2021 · 6 likes · 2,390 followers View post →
Tom Babington
@Tom_Babington1 · X

@Gearoidmuar @ZahcM @Michalski_MC @fleroy1974 @WHO https://t.co/LdSKCNmA4R These results ? https://t.co/7OgPp09L3i

Apr 21, 2020 · 1,206 followers View post →
あり丸(ARIMARU)
@arimaru117 · X

Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease  : The Women's Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Dietary Modification TrialJAMA ,295(6):629-642.  643-654.  655-666.

Jun 24, 2019 · 1 like · 620 followers View post →