Diet and Cardiometabolic Diseases

One of our central research areas is examining the role of diet in preventing and treating cardiometabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We have long experience investigating the role of different types of fatty acids in the development and treatment of metabolic disorders. Our research involves evaluating both cardiometabolic effects from diet and identifying potential molecular mechanisms. The research includes both dietary interventions and large-scale epidemiological studies with outcomes related to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality. The main exposure is the composition of fatty acids in the diet, blood, and tissues. Assessing fatty acid composition in blood and tissues is a crucial tool for providing objective biomarkers of dietary fat quality, monitoring adherence in dietary intervention studies, and studying fatty acid metabolism itself.

We are an active research group in "The Fatty Acid and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE)," a global scientific consortium focused on studying fatty acids as dietary biomarkers in large pooled prospective cohort studies, primarily with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes as outcomes.

In addition to our research on different fats, we have conducted pioneering studies on the health effects of a "Healthy Nordic Diet", a sustainable whole diet with locally produced foods. We have conducted a series of randomized studies indicating favorable cardiometabolic effects after treatment with the Healthy Nordic Diet. We conduct both intervention and epidemiological studies examining the health effects of a "Nordic diet" and its dietary components. For more information about the Healthy Nordic Diet, please see the: ”NAFLDiet study” and the “NORDHEART Study”.

Key Publications

1. Evidence-based European recommendations for the dietary management of diabetes.Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Diabetologia. 2023 Jun;66(6):965-985.
2. Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium; Magnussen C et al. Global Effect of Modifiable Risk Factors on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality. N Engl J Med. 2023 Oct 5;389(14):1273-1285.
3. Risérus U. Diet quality and mortality: Epidemiological lessons for prevention. J Intern Med 2023;294(2):161-163.
4. Iggman D, Rosqvist F, Larsson A, Ärnlöv J, Beckman L, Rudling M, Risérus U. Role of dietary fats in modulating cardiometabolic risk during moderate weight gain: a randomized double-blind overfeeding trial (LIPOGAIN study). J Am Heart Assoc 2014;3(5). pii: e001095. doi: 10.1161.
5. Adamsson V, Reumark A, Fredriksson I-B, Hammarstrom E, Vessby B, Johansson G, Riserus U. Effects of a healthy Nordic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolemic subjects: a randomised controlled trial (NORDIET). J Intern Med 2011;269:150-9
6. Iggman D, Gustafsson I-B, Berglund L, Vessby B, Marckmann P, Riserus U. Replacing dairy fat with rapeseed oil causes rapid improvement of hyperlipidaemia: a randomised controlled study. J Intern Med 2011;270(4):356-64.