If Mediterranean Diet Could Slow Atherosclerosis Progression, Could Specific Herbal Supplement Achieve the Same?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leung Ping-Chung
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Early Report ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Surrogate Marker ◽  
Cardiovascular Prevention ◽  
Dietary Control ◽  
Herbal Supplement ◽  
Objective Indicator ◽  
Atherosclerosis Progression ◽  
Objective Reduction

Dietary Control has been emphasized as an important means to prevent the development of atherosclerosis. It is a form belief without scientific evidence until the early report of the Study on Coronary Diet Intervention with olive oil and Cardiovascular Prevention (CODIOPREV Study on Mediterranean Diet). The current study is using Surrogate market IMT as the objective indicator, to compare the CORDIOPREV volunteers with known cardiovascular disease, which have demonstrated objective reduction in IMT thickness after 5 to 7 years of Mediterranean diet consumption. A study done in Hong Kong since 2003 using a simple twin herb formula for the prevention of progress of atherosclerosis in 4 different groups of patients with cardiovascular diseases, and using the same surrogate marker IMT as the objective indicator, showed comparable results within a much shorter period of 6-12 months. Extensive laboratory tests have also been completed to verify the bioactivities of the twin herb formula on anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, endothelial protection and regenerative capacity related to atherosclerosis. It is suggested that before more potent therapeutic measures become available to slow atherosclerosis progression are available. The purpose of the paper is to compare the Mediterranean Diet for long term consumption and selective herbal preparations for shorter term or intermittent scheduled intake, and recommend to high-risk individuals.

scholarly journals Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, Nut-Related Antioxidants, and Cardiovascular Disease

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Lorenzon dos Santos ◽  
Alexandre Schaan de Quadros ◽  
Camila Weschenfelder ◽  
Silvia Bueno Garofallo ◽  
Aline Marcadenti
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cardiovascular Prevention ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Dietary Antioxidants ◽  
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽  
Atherosclerosis Progression ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Biomarkers Of Oxidative Stress

Atherosclerosis is related to fat accumulation in the arterial walls and vascular stiffening, and results in acute coronary syndrome which is commonly associated with acute myocardial infarction. Oxidative stress participates in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Thus, the inclusion of food sources of dietary antioxidants, such as different kinds of nuts, may improve biomarkers related to oxidative stress, contributing to a possible reduction in atherosclerosis progression. This article has briefly highlighted the interaction between oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease, in addition to the effect of the consumption of different nuts and related dietary antioxidants—like polyphenols and vitamin E—on biomarkers of oxidative stress in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. Studies in vitro suggest that nuts may exert antioxidant effects by DNA repair mechanisms, lipid peroxidation prevention, modulation of the signaling pathways, and inhibition of the MAPK pathways through the suppression of NF-κB and activation of the Nrf2 pathways. Studies conducted in animal models showed the ability of dietary nuts in improving biomarkers of oxidative stress, such as oxLDL and GPx. However, clinical trials in humans have not been conclusive, especially with regards to the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The Portuguese MEDITERRANEAN DIET Wheel: development considerations

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
S.S.P. Rodrigues ◽  
B. Franchini ◽  
I. Pinho ◽  
P. Graça
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Education Professionals ◽  
Food Pattern ◽  
Health Directorate ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Diet And Lifestyle

Abstract Scientific evidence has been reporting the health and environmental benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. However, countries of the Mediterranean region, Portugal included, are gradually abandoning this traditional food pattern. The aim of the present work was to develop the Portuguese Mediterranean Diet Wheel. Three main steps were followed: 1) Establishment of the most relevant Mediterranean diet and lifestyle principles to improve this pattern among the Portuguese population; 2) Converting those principles into a captivating and easy to understand tool; 3) Obtaining experts’ opinion. By a matter of consistency, the preservation and transmission of the Mediterranean heritage was represented through an upgrade of the current Portuguese food wheel guide. This complementary tool highlights the Mediterranean Diet enlarged character that encompasses a healthy lifestyle and reinforces sociocultural and environmental features. It was launched at the end of 2016 and was nationally disseminated with the support of the Portuguese Health Directorate. Initially it was presented in a poster format image that was subsequently spread in different communication formats. This newly developed Mediterranean Food Guide is a complementary educational tool that will support health and education professionals in the never ending mission of promoting healthy food choices.

scholarly journals Changing the Irish dietary guidelines to incorporate the principles of the Mediterranean diet: proposing the MedÉire diet

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrey C Tierney ◽  
Ioannis Zabetakis
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Low Fat Diet ◽  
Mediterranean Countries ◽  
Food Pyramid ◽  
Health And Well Being

AbstractObjectiveIn Ireland, the major causes of death are CVD. The current Irish healthy eating guidelines and food pyramid primarily advocate a low-fat diet. However, there is overwhelming scientific evidence for the benefits of a Mediterranean diet (Med Diet) in the prevention and management of metabolic disease as well as improving overall health and well-being. In the current commentary, the rationale to incorporate the principles of the Med Diet into the Irish dietary guidelines is presented.DesignPerspectives of authors.SettingLocal and international.SubjectsPopulations in Europe, North America and Australia.ResultsAdopting components of the Med Diet presents a more evidence-based approach to updating the current Irish dietary guidelines. Experience and lessons from other non-Mediterranean countries show that it could be a feasible and effective solution to improving the dietary habits of the Irish population to prevent and mange chronic diseases.ConclusionsPolicies and programmes to address perceived barriers to the Med Diet’s implementation and uptake in non-Mediterranean countries should be promoted.

scholarly journals Adherence to Mediterranean Diet Pattern among Spanish Adults Attending a Medical Centre: Nondiabetic Subjects and Type 1 and 2 Diabetic Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Concepción Vidal-Peracho ◽  
José Miguel Tricás-Moreno ◽  
Ana Carmen Lucha-López ◽  
Maria Orosia Lucha-López ◽  
Ana Cristina Camuñas-Pescador ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Medical Centre ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Diet Pattern ◽  
Type 2 Diabetic ◽  
Healthy Males

Objective. To identify adherence to Mediterranean diet among two groups of Spanish adults: diabetic patients and nondiabetic subjects.Methods. Adherence to Mediterranean diet was measured by a 14-item screener (scale: 0–14; ≤5: low, 6–9: moderate, and ≥10: high) in 351 volunteers.Results. Mean age was 50.97 ± 12.58 in nondiabetics (n=154) and 59.50 ± 13.34 in diabetics (n=197). The whole sample scored 8.77 ± 1.82. Score was 9.19 ± 1.84 in nondiabetic females (n=58) and 8.15 ± 1.79 in diabetic females (n=85) (p=0.003), due to lower consumption of olive oil (p=0.005) and nuts (p=0.000). Type 2 diabetic males (n=79; 8.76 ± 1.88) consumed less olive oil than healthy males (n=28; 9.36 ± 1.59) (p=0.046). Up to 30-year-old nondiabetics scored lower than more than 60-year-old nondiabetics (8.40 ± 1.5 versus 9.74 ± 2.03;p=0.047). The youngest ate less olive oil (p=0.002) and more pastries (p=0.007).Conclusions. The sample presented moderate adherence to Mediterranean diet in all subgroups. Scientific evidence about the benefits of Mediterranean diet, olive oil, and nuts supports the recommendation to increase consumption of olive oil and nuts in diabetic women and of daily olive oil in type 2 diabetic men, reducing consumption of red meat, butter, and pastries, and to promote Mediterranean diet among the youngest of the sample studied.

scholarly journals Experimental Outcomes of the Mediterranean Diet: Lessons Learned from the Predimed Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dicle Kargin ◽  
Laura Tomaino ◽  
Lluís Serra-Majem
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Olive Tree ◽  
Energy Restriction ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Predimed Study

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is, culturally and historically, the nutritional pattern shared by people living in the olive-tree growing areas of the Mediterranean basin. It is of great importance for its potential preventive effect against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study, a Spanish multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT), was designed to assess the long-term effects of the MD, without any energy restriction, on the incidence of CVD in individuals at high cardiovascular (CV) risk. Since its inception, it gave a great contribution to the available literature on the issue. It is well known that, in the field of the health sciences, RCTs provide the best scientific evidence. Thus, the aim of the present review is to analyse the results of the RCTs performed within the frame of the PREDIMED study. Our findings showed that MD has beneficial effects in the primary prevention of CVDs, diabetes and in the management of metabolic syndrome.

scholarly journals An update of the KIDMED questionnaire, a Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 2543-2547
Author(s):  
Cesare Altavilla ◽  
Pablo Caballero-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Fruit Juice ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Whole Grains ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Health Organizations

AbstractObjective:The KIDMED questionnaire was published in 2004 to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in children and adolescents. In the last 14 years, several respected official dietetics and health organizations have recommended appropriate dietary habits, including eating whole grains and consuming whole fruit rather than fruit juice. We propose an update of the KIDMED questionnaire.Design:Based on the scientific evidence, the present commentary suggests some changes to the KIDMED questionnaire.Results:We suggest deleting ‘or fruit juice’ from the first question of the questionnaire, rewording the question as ‘Takes a fruit every day’, and assigning a positive value of +1. We suggest adding ‘whole-grain’ to the eighth question of the questionnaire, rewording the question as ‘Consumes whole-grain pasta or whole-grain rice almost every day (5 or more times per week)’, and assigning a positive value of +1. Further, we propose to add ‘whole cereals or whole grains’ to the ninth question of the questionnaire, reword the question as ‘Has whole cereals or whole grains (whole-meal bread, etc.) for breakfast’, and assign a positive value of +1.Conclusions:The present commentary examines some signs of a paradigm shift about fruit juice and whole grains after the development of the KIDMED questionnaire. The changes are of paramount importance in order to make the questionnaire an updated tool to evaluate adherence to the MD.

scholarly journals Which diet for an effective cardiovascular prevention?

2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Sofi ◽  
Rosanna Abbate ◽  
Gian Franco Gensini ◽  
Alessandro Casini
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Pattern ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Salt Intake ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Cardiovascular Prevention ◽  
Degenerative Diseases ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Strict Adherence

Over the last years, numerous evidence on the existing relationship between nutrition and chronic degenerative diseases have led investigators to search for the optimal dietary pattern to maintain a good health status. It’s well known, in fact, that nutrition is capable of substantially modifying the risk profile of a subject in primary and/or secondary prevention. Several models of diet have been imposed on public attention, but the one that got the most interest is certainly the Mediterranean diet. Recently, several studies have shown that a strict adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern is associated with a lower incidence of mortality and incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Meta-analyses conducted by our group have revealed, in a population of over than 2 million of people, that adherence to Mediterranean diet determines a significant reduction on the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents. To the best of the knowledge the most effective indications for an optimal therapeutic strategy in nutrition include: increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables up to the recommended 5 servings a day, prefer whole grains, replace saturated and trans fats with unsaturated fats, reduce the consumption of sugar and sweetened beverages, and limit salt intake. With these simple indications, together with recommendations of following the principles of the traditional Mediterranean diet, a substantial reduction of the risk of incidence and / or mortality from cardiovascular disease can be easily obtained.

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