Number: 01 Date: 18/07/2006 Category: Health science and technology Contact: Valentina Ruiz-Gutiérrez Telephone: 954611550. Ext-244 Email: valruiz@ig.csic.es

ANDALUSIAN SCIENTISTS PROVE THAT MEDITERRANEAN DIET SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

After conducting a pilot study on 722 patients, scientists of the Instituto de la Grasa de Sevilla (CSIC), from the Universities of Seville and Malaga, and Virgen del Rocio hospital, have proven the positive benefit of the Mediterranean diet in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The first results of this study –called PREDIMED- corroborate the beneficial effects of an olive oil, nuts & dried fruits, and wine-based diet. The journal “Annals of Internal Medicine” has published the preliminary results of this work, presented in Madrid earlier on today. Instituto de la Grasa researcher Valentina Ruiz-Gutiérrez explains the relevance of the work: ‘PREDIMER will allow to make scientifically rigorous recommendations to society, as it provides top scientific evidence. This means that the Mediterranean diet will be preserved as a top public health measure’. The intention is for PREDIMED to become the first randomised monitorised study providing scientific evidence to make diet-related recommendations in order to prevent cardiovascular disease. This is why 9,000 patients highly likely to suffer cardiovascular disorders have been recruited in 20 health centres of eight Spanish regions. The scientists of the 17 participating research groups have analysed the effects of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil, nuts and dried fruits on the risk of suffering cardiovascular episodes, such as heart attacks or angina pectoris. They have also analysed the effects of the controlled consumption of wine by patients who are highly likely to suffer cardiovascular disorders, and have compared them with teetotallers. Moreover, they are trying to identify people with certain genetic characteristics that can benefit from the Mediterranean diet. Process The 772 participating patients were arranged in three groups. Two of the groups followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with virgin olive oil (group A) and nuts and dried fruits (group B). The third group followed a low-fat diet, according to the usual recommendations of current clinical practice. Systolic blood pressure decreased 3% and 4% in groups A and B respectively, whereas that of the low-fat diet group remained the same. The HDL cholesterol fraction, which protects against arteriosclerosis, increased 6% and 3% in groups A and B respectively, whereas that of the low-fat diet group remained the same. There was a reduction of the cholesterol LDL fraction, a cardiovascular risk factor, in the three groups, although it was group A that had the highest decrease (3%). As for indicators of arterial inflammation, there was 8% reduction in group A and 9% in group B, whilst the low-fat diet group had 1% increase. Finally, the glucose level decreased 3% and 2% in groups A and B respectively, whereas that of the low-fat diet group increased 2%. Experts plan to analyse the results of this diet during four years. These first conclusions reveal that a diet supplemented with a minimum of 50 gr. (three soup spoons) of virgin olive oil and 30 gr. of nuts and dried fruits does not increase the body weight. In addition to this, there was an important reduction of the patients’ blood pressure and insulin resistance. Also, the groups that supplemented their diet with virgin olive oil or nuts and dried fruits showed a reduction of the seric concentration of vascular inflammation markers related to the appearance and development of arteriosclerosis. To download the original work (PDF), please click here