Inadequate physician knowledge of the effects of diet on blood lipids and lipoproteins.

BACKGROUND To assess the nutrition knowledge of physicians on the basic effects of diet on blood lipids and lipoproteins. METHODS Anonymous mailed dietary knowledge surveys to 6000 randomly selected physicians in the United States licensed in either Internal Medicine or Cardiology. RESULTS Response rate: 16% (n = 639). Half of the physicians did not know that canola oil and 26% did not know olive oil were good sources of monounsaturated fat. Ninety-three percent (84% of cardiologists vs. 96% of internists; p < 0.001) did not know that a low-fat diet, in general, would increase blood triglycerides. Approximately three-quarters (70% of cardiologists vs. 77% of internists; p < 0.01) did not know a low-fat diet would decrease HDL-c and almost half (45%) thought that a low-fat diet would not change HDL-c. CONCLUSIONS If physicians are to implement dietary and cholesterol management guidelines, they will likely need to become more knowledgeable about nutrition.