Effect of High Carbohydrate Intakes on the Obesity Index, Blood Pressure, and Blood Lipid Levels in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

This study was designed to investigate the effect of the ratio of energy from carbohydrate to total calories on dietary intake, obesity index, blood pressure, and blood lipid content in cardiovascular disease patients over 35 years old. A total of 552(227 male, 325 female) subjects were divided into three groups according to carbohydrate/total energy ratio : carbohydrate ratios below 25 percent were in the low carbohydrate group( <61.1%), between 25 and 75 percent carbohydrate were medium($\geq$61.1-<74.7%), and higher than 75 percent were in the high carbohydrate group($\geq$74.7%). The anthropometric data, nutrient intake, serum lipid levels, and blood pressure of each group were compared with one another. For men and women with high carbohydrate intakes, Inadequate nutritional intake was observed. Abdominal fat accumulation and blood TC level for men in the high carbohydrate group were higher than in medium or low carbohydrate groups. Therefore, it seems that high carbohydrate intake may produce adverse effects on abdominal fat accumulation and blood lipid patterns. Blood pressure, however, was significantly higher for women in low and high carbohydrate groups than in medium carbohydrate group. These results suggest that extremely high and low carbohydrate intake may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease and that it is necessary to consume nutritionally balanced meals. This can be done by controlling the ratio of dietary carbohydrate at a medium level in order to prevent and/or to reduce the risk.