Soybean Oil Trial of cArdiovascular Risk

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age 30 to 70 years at beginning of study

- LDL-cholesterol between 120 and 160 mg/dl

- Less than 2+ risk factors for coronary heart disease (risk factors include: blood
pressure > 140/90 mm Hg or on blood pressure medication; HDL-cholesterol < 40 mg/dl;
age greater than 45 yrs for males & greater than 55 yrs for females; family history
of premature coronary heart disease (CHD in male first degree relative <55 years; CHD
in female first degree relative <65 years)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Presence of kidney disease, liver disease, gout, hyperthyroidism, untreated or
unstable hypothyroidism, certain cancers, gastrointestinal disease, pancreatic
disease, other metabolic diseases, or malabsorption syndromes

- Use of prescription or over-the-counter medications or supplements that alter lipid
metabolism.

- Women who have given birth during the previous 12 months

- Pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant or become pregnant during the
study

- Lactating women

- Type 2 diabetes requiring the use of oral antidiabetic agents or insulin

- History of bariatric or certain other surgeries related to weight control

- Use of prescription or over-the-counter antiobesity medications or supplements (e.g.,
phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, caffeine) during and for at least 6 months prior to
the start of the study or a history of a surgical intervention for obesity

- Unwillingness to abstain from herbal supplements for two weeks prior to the study and
during the study

- Smokers or other tobacco users (during 6 months prior to the start of the study)

- History of eating disorders or other dietary patterns which are not consistent with
the dietary intervention (e.g., vegetarians, very low fat diets, high protein diets)

- Known (self-reported) allergy or adverse reaction to study foods

- Active cardiovascular disease (such as a heart attack or procedure within the past
three months or participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program within the last
three months, stroke, or history/treatment for transient ischemic attacks in the past
three months, or documented history of pulmonary embolus in the past six months)

- Unable or unwilling to give informed consent or communicate with study staff

- Self-report of alcohol or substance abuse within the past 12 months and/or current
acute treatment or rehabilitation program for these problems (long-term participation
in Alcoholics Anonymous is not an exclusion)

- Other medical, psychiatric, or behavioral factors that in the judgment of the
Principal Investigator may interfere with study participation or the ability to
follow the intervention protocol