NICE have suggested various dietary changes if a patient has suffered a myocardial infarction previously (1):
patients are:
advised not to take supplements containing beta-carotene, and should not be advised to take antioxidant supplements (vitamin E and/or C) or folic acid to reduce cardiovascular risk
advised to consume at least 7 g of omega 3 fatty acids per week from two to four portions of oily fish
advised to eat a Mediterranean-style diet (more bread, fruit, vegetables and fish; less meat; and replace butter and cheese with products based on vegetable and plant oils)
do not offer or advise people to use the following to prevent another MI:
omega-3 fatty acid capsules
omega-3 fatty acid supplemented foods
NICE state that (2):
people at high risk of or with CVD should be advised to eat a diet in which total fat intake is 30% or less of total energy intake, saturated fats are 10% or less of total energy intake, intake of dietary cholesterol is less than 300 mg/day and where possible saturated fats are replaced by monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats
people at high risk of or with CVD should be advised to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, in line with national guidance for the general population. Examples of what constitutes a portion can be found at www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet
people at high risk of or with CVD should be advised to consume at least two portions of fish per week, including a portion of oily fish
pregnant women should be advised to limit their oily fish to no more than two portions per week
people should not routinely be recommended to take omega-3 fatty acid supplements for the primary prevention of CVD
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