The Mediterranean Diet and Coronary Heart Disease

The Mediterranean diet (MD) prevents cardiovascular disease by different putative mechanisms, including modifications in the blood fatty acid (FA) profile. Polytherapy for secondary cardiovascular prevention might mask the effect of MD on the FA profile. This study was aimed to assess whether MD, in comparison with a low-fat diet (LFD), favorably modifies the blood FA profile in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) on polytherapy. One hundred and twenty patients with a recent history of coronary stenting, randomized to MD or to LFD, completed 3 months of this open-label dietary intervention study. Diet Mediterranean-ness was evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MeDAS) score. Both diets significantly reduced saturated FA (p < 0.01). Putative favorable changes in total n-3 FA (p = 0.03) and eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid (EPA + DHA; p = 0.04) were significantly larger with MD than with LFD. At 3 months, in the whole cohort, the MeDAS score correlated inversely with palmitic acid (R = −0.21, p = 0.02), and with palmitoleic acid (R = −0.32, p = 0.007), and positively with total n-3 FA (R = 0.19, p = 0.03), EPA (R = 0.28, p = 0.002), and EPA + DHA (R = 0.21, p = 0.02). In CHD patients on polytherapy, both MD and LFD shift FA blood composition towards a healthier profile, with a more favorable effect of MD on omega−3 levels.

Download Full-text

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in the Spanish EPIC Cohort Study

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwp282 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 170 (12) ◽

pp. 1518-1529 ◽

Cited By ~ 175

Author(s):

G. Buckland ◽

C. A. Gonzalez ◽

A. Agudo ◽

M. Vilardell ◽

A. Berenguer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

The Mediterranean

Download Full-text

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in the Spanish EPIC Cohort Study

Yearbook of Vascular Surgery ◽

10.1016/s0749-4041(10)79288-5 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 35-36

Author(s):

G.L. Moneta

Keyword(s):

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

The Mediterranean

Download Full-text

The Mediterranean diet: science and practice

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1079/phn2005931 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 9 (1a) ◽

pp. 105-110 ◽

Cited By ~ 188

Author(s):

Walter C Willett

Keyword(s):

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

Metabolic Effects ◽

Health Study ◽

Monounsaturated Fat ◽

Daily Consumption ◽

The Mediterranean

AbstractObjectiveTo provide an overview of research relevant to the Mediterranean diet.DesignPersonal perspectives.SettingInternational.SubjectPopulations in Europe, North America, Asia.ResultsApproximately 50 years ago, Keys and colleagues described strikingly low rates of coronary heart disease in the Mediterranean region, where fat intake was relatively high but largely from olive oil. Subsequent controlled feeding studies have shown that compared to carbohydrate, both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats reduce LDL and triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol. Importantly, these beneficial metabolic effects are greater in the presence of underlying insulin resistance. In a detailed analysis within the Nurses' Health Study, trans fat from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (absent in traditional Mediterranean diets) was most strongly related to risk of heart disease, and both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat were inversely associated with risk. Epidemiologic evidence has also supported beneficial effects of higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and daily consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol. Together with regular physical activity and not smoking, our analyses suggest that over 80% of coronary heart disease, 70% of stroke, and 90% of type 2 diabetes can be avoided by healthy food choices that are consistent with the traditional Mediterranean diet.ConclusionBoth epidemiologic and metabolic studies suggest that individuals can benefit greatly by adopting elements of Mediterranean diets.

Download Full-text

Beyond the Mediterranean Diet: The Role of Omega‐3 Fatty Acids in the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease

Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1111/j.1520-037x.2003.1332.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 136-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Charles R. Harper ◽

Terry A. Jacobson

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

The Mediterranean

Download Full-text

Re: Clin Invest Med. 2006 Jun;29(3):154-8

Clinical & Investigative Medicine ◽

10.25011/cim.v35i4.17143 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 157

Author(s):

_ CIM

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Secondary Prevention ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Amount Of Information ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Investigative Medicine ◽

Redundant Publication

Clinical and Investigative Medicine wishes to inform its readers of the following incident of redundant publication. The publication: de Lorgeril M, Salen P The Mediterranean diet in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Clin Invest Med. 2006 Jun;29(3):154-8 contains a substantial amount of information and text reported in the previously published article, de Lorgeril M, Salen P. The Mediterranean-style diet for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Public Health Nutr. 2006 Feb;9(1A):118-23.

Download Full-text

Natural preparations supporting the treatment of coronary heart disease: a narrative review

HIGHER SCHOOL’S PULSE ◽

10.5604/01.3001.0015.2815 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (SUPPLEMENT 2) ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Aleksandra Sidor

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Natural Products ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Indirect Evidence ◽

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Lipid Lowering ◽

The Mediterranean

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is currently the most common cause of death in the world. Diet plays a significant role in the treatment of CHD. The purpose of this review is to present the current knowledge on natural products, including soybeans, garlic, black coffee, tea, and monounsaturated fatty acids, as well as components of the Mediterranean diet and Portfolio diet in supporting the treatment of CHD. A literature search was carried out in a scientific search engine database. Combinations of the following terms were used: “coronary heart disease”, “ischemic heart disease”, and “natural preparation of CHD”. Scientific publications were systematically examined to identify both direct and indirect evidence that met the aims of this review. Only articles that considered human subjects were included. After the selection process, a total of 28 articles were included in the review. The main findings were as follows: Garlic ameliorates the function of the endothelium, blood pressure parameters, and lipid profiles. Coffee improves glucose metabolism and shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Tea ameliorates the lipid profile. Monounsaturated fatty acids show antioxidant properties. The Mediterranean diet has antihypertensive and antioxidant properties and reduces inflammation. The Portfolio diet shows lipid-lowering and antioxidant properties. Diet in CHD is an extremely important factor supporting treatment and can significantly modify the parameters of cardiovascular risk. However, there is still a need for more research on the properties of natural products and their health effects.

Download Full-text

The olive oil antioxidant hydroxytyrosol efficiently protects against the oxidative stress-induced impairment of the NO• response of isolated rat aorta

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00755.2006 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 292 (4) ◽

pp. H1931-H1936 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

S. J. Rietjens ◽

A. Bast ◽

J. de Vente ◽

G. R. M. M. Haenen

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Olive Oil ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Cumene Hydroperoxide ◽

Rat Aorta ◽

Lipid Hydroperoxides ◽

Nitric Oxide Radical ◽

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet, which is abundant in antioxidants, is associated with a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease. Olive oil and olives, which contain the antioxidants hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and tyrosol, are important components of this diet. In this study, the effects of oxidative stress on the nitric oxide radical (NO•)-mediated relaxation of rat aorta and the protection by these antioxidants were determined. Cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) was used to mimic oxidative stress induced by lipid hydroperoxides, which is mediated by the formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH•). CHP (300 μM) impaired the NO•-mediated relaxation of rat aorta by the acetylcholine receptor agonist carbachol ( P < 0.05). This was due to a reduction in NO• production. A diminished NO•-mediated relaxation disturbs the vascular tone and leads to a rise in blood pressure, which is a well-established risk factor for coronary heart disease. Hydroxytyrosol (10 μM) efficiently protected the aorta against the CHP-induced impairment of the NO•-mediated relaxation ( P < 0.05). Oleuropein, tyrosol, and homovanillic alcohol, a major metabolite of hydroxytyrosol, did not show protection. Moreover, hydroxytyrosol was found to be a potent OH• scavenger, which can be attributed to its catechol moiety. Because of its amphiphilic characteristics (octanol-water partitioning coefficient = 1.1), hydroxytyrosol will readily cross membranes and provide protection in the cytosol and membranes, including the water-lipid interface. The present study provides a molecular basis for the contribution of hydroxytyrosol to the benefits of the Mediterranean diet.

Download Full-text