Participants at greater risk of cardiovascular disease had significantly greater mean ( SE ) reductions in diastolic blood pressure ( -5.0 1.7 mm Hg compared with -0.7 0.6 mm Hg ) , cholesterol ( -12.1 8.5 mg/dL compared with +5.6 2.0 mg/dL ) , and triglycerides ( -31.7 15.8 mg/dL compared with +2.3 3.0 mg/dL ) ( n = 27 , 24 , and 15 , respectively ; P < 0.01 ) than did those at lower risk , who did not have significantly different cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations .