SY23-3
MEDITERRANEAN DIET ON PRIMARY PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Extract

The Mediterranean diet (MeDiet) is characterized by abundant use of olive oil; high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, nuts and seeds; moderate intake of wine with meals; moderate consumption of fish, seafood, fermented dairy products, poultry and eggs; and low consumption of red and processed meat and sweets. Several epidemiological studies have pointed out that high adherence to MeDiet is associated with strong protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the highest level of scientific evidence only is obtained by the performance of randomized clinical trials. The PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) study assessed the long-term effects of the MeDiet on incident CVD. After 4.8 years, 288 major CVD events occurred in 7447 participants. Those who followed-up a MeDiet + Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and MeDiet + nuts showed a 30% reduction in the incidence of CVD compared to the control group. Incident diabetes (273 cases) among 3541 non-diabetic participants diminished by 40% in the MeDiet + EVOO compared to the control group. Analyses of intermediate markers of cardiovascular risk demonstrated beneficial effects of the MeDiets on blood pressure, lipid profiles, lipoprotein particles, inflammation, oxidative stress, and carotid atherosclerosis. The PREDIMED results demonstrate that a high-unsaturated fat and antioxidant-rich dietary pattern such as the MeDiet is a useful tool in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, these protective effects of the traditional Mediet may be even greater if we change common olive oil by EVOOl, increase consumption of nuts, fatty fish and whole grain cereals, reduce sodium intake, and maintain a moderate consumption of wine.