Diets · Metabolic & Cardiometabolic
portfolio dietary pattern (combined cholesterol-lowering foods) decreases LDL cholesterol
In plain terms: Do combined cholesterol-lowering foods lower bad cholesterol?
Yes, stacking proven foods lowers it additively, approaching a low-dose statin's effect.
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
Combining evidence-based cholesterol-lowering foods (plant sterols, viscous fiber, soy protein, nuts) lowers LDL, non-HDL, ApoB, CRP and BP — additively, approaching a low-dose statin. The intellectual template for the bakery's stack-the-levers strategy.
The evidence (16)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jenkins 2011 · JAMA | RCT | supports | high | 6-month RCT (n=351): self-selected portfolio diet (sterols, soy, viscous fibre, nuts) lowered LDL-C ~13% vs ~3% control; real-world effect smaller than metabolic-ward. |
| Glenn AJ et al 2021 · study_type: RCT | observational | supports | moderate | Secondary analysis of 6-mo Toronto Healthy Diet RCT (n=652): change in Portfolio Diet Score inversely associated with change in LDL-C (β=-0.01 mmol/L per point, 95% CI -0.02 to -0.002, p=0.02). |
| Glenn 2023 · Circulation | observational | supports | high | 3 cohorts: higher Portfolio Diet Score associated with lower total CVD, CHD and stroke risk |
| Polesel J et al 2024 · study_type: observational | observational | supports | medium | Cross-sectional cholesterol-lowering diet score (Portfolio-adapted, 0-7) in breast cancer patients: highest adherence (score≥4) had lower LDL-C (107 vs 122 mg/dL, p<0.01) than lowest (0-1). |
| Ramprasath VR et al] # corrected 2026-08-17 from PubMed; was [Chiavaroli 2014 · Prog Cardiovasc Dis | RCT | supports | moderate | Consumption of dietary portfolio of cholesterol-lowering foods improved blood lipids and estimated CHD risk in hyperlipidemic adults. |
| Chiavaroli L, et al. (Sievenpiper) 2018 · Prog Cardiovasc Dis | meta-analysis | supports | high | MA of controlled trials: significant LDL/non-HDL/apoB/CRP/BP reductions |
| Keith M et al] # corrected 2026-08-17 from PubMed; was [2015 venue: J-rel · J-rel | RCT | supports | moderate | Modified portfolio diet complementing medical management produced additional LDL/cardiovascular risk reduction in treated patients. |
| Glenn AJ et al] # corrected 2026-08-17 from PubMed; was [2025 venue: J-rel · J-rel | RCT | supports | moderate | Metabolomic profiling from two RCTs confirmed a cholesterol-lowering plant-based (portfolio-type) diet reduced LDL and shifted lipid metabolites. |
| Jenkins 2007 · Am J Clin Nutr | RCT | supports | high | RCT comparing portfolio diet vs statin vs control: dietary portfolio produced LDL reductions approaching those of a first-generation statin. |
| Glenn 2023 · Diabetes Care-rel | observational | supports | moderate | Women's Health Initiative cohort: higher Portfolio Diet adherence associated with lower incident type 2 diabetes, consistent with cardiometabolic benefit. |
| de Abreu-Silva EO et al 2025 · study_type: RCT | RCT | tested-null | low | Pilot 4-arm RCT (n=58), DICA-FH (Portfolio-adapted) diet, 120d: no significant LDL-c difference vs placebo arms; explicitly underpowered for efficacy, only feasibility-level. |
| Kavanagh 2025 · BMC Med | observational | supports | moderate | NHANES cohort: greater Portfolio Diet adherence associated with lower CVD mortality |
| Ferro Y et al 2020 · study_type: observational | observational | supports | low | Retrospective comparative study, hypercholesterolemic adults, ~48±12 days: LDL fell 44±4 mg/dL on Portfolio-Mediterranean Diet vs 21±4 (Med alone) and 23±4 (Med+sterol yogurt), p<0.001. |
| Jenkins 2015 · Br J Nutr-rel | RCT | supports | moderate | Dietary portfolio vs DASH diet: portfolio achieved greater improvements in blood lipids alongside blood-pressure benefits. |
| Jenkins DJ, et al. 2003 · JAMA | RCT | supports | moderate | RCT vs lovastatin: combined-foods diet lowered LDL & CRP near statin |
| Jenkins 2013 · J Clin Lipidol-rel | RCT | supports | moderate | Adding MUFA to the portfolio diet further reduced apoB and improved apoA-I/lipid profile in a randomized trial. |
Disagree, or know a study we missed?
We grade by evidence, not opinions. The way to weigh in is to point us to a study we haven't cited (check the evidence table above first), or to flag a problem with one we have. Every submission is reviewed; if it holds up, the grade updates and shows in Science Changes Its Mind.
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Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.