Abstract P070: A Low Carbohydrate Diet from Plant or Animal Sources and Mortality Among Myocardial Infarction Survivors

Background: The healthiest dietary pattern for myocardial infarction (MI) survivors is not known. Specific long-term benefits of a low carbohydrate diet (LCD) is unknown, whether it mainly be from animal or vegetable sources. Objective: To examine the associations between post-MI adherence to a low carbohydrate diet (LCD), measured by a total, plant- and animal-based low carbohydrate diet score (LCDS), in relation to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Design: We included 2,258 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 1,840 men from the Health Professional Follow-Up Study, who had survived a first MI during follow-up, provided pre-MI and at least one post-MI food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Results: Adherence to a LCD high in animal sources of protein and fat was associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.05-1.63 for all-cause mortality; HR= 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08-2.06 for cardiovascular mortality comparing extreme quintiles). An increase in adherence to an animal-based LCD prospectively assessed from the pre- to post-MI period was associated with higher all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality (HR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.63 for all-cause mortality; HR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.10-2.12 for cardiovascular mortality comparing extreme quintiles). An increase in adherence to a plant-based LCD was not associated with lower all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. Conclusions: Greater adherence to a LCD high in animal sources of fat and protein was associated with higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality post-MI. We did not find a health benefit from greater adherence to an overall LCD post MI.