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Mediterranean diet and coronary heart disease: are antioxidants critical?
A Trichopoulou1, E Vasilopoulou, A Lagiou
1Department of Nutrition, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece.
Insights
The Mediterranean diet significantly lowers coronary heart disease (CHD) recurrence after myocardial infarction. Its antioxidant-rich plant foods may offer protection beyond traditional risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular disease research
- Nutritional science
- Preventive medicine
Background:
- Mediterranean diet variants are linked to reduced coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence.
- Previous studies suggest benefits for chronic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Mediterranean diet's effect on secondary prevention of CHD after myocardial infarction.
- To explore mechanisms of CHD protection independent of traditional risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Lyon Diet Heart Study, a randomized secondary prevention trial.
- Analyzed dietary patterns and cardiovascular outcomes.
Main Results:
- The Mediterranean diet substantially reduced the recurrence rate following a first myocardial infarction.
- Evidence suggests protective mechanisms against CHD are independent of established risk factors.
Conclusions:
- The Mediterranean diet plays a crucial role in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.
- Antioxidant properties of plant-based foods within the Mediterranean diet are hypothesized as key mediators of its cardioprotective effects.
Abstract:
There is substantial evidence that several variants of the Mediterranean diet reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and perhaps other chronic conditions. Recently, the final results of the Lyon Diet Heart Study, a randomized secondary prevention trial, indicated that the Mediterranean diet substantially reduces the rate of recurrence after a first myocardial infarction. Data from this study also suggest that the Mediterranean diet protects against CHD through mechanisms that are independent of traditional CHD risk factors. We postulate that the antioxidant properties of several plant foods in the Mediterranean diet may be critical mediators of the beneficial effects of this diet.