[Scientific evidence of the mediterranean diet effects in determining intermediate and final cardiovascular disease...

The follow-up of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been associated with lower mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases. However, it is important to evaluate the scientific evidence provided by published articles. Therefore, in order to analyze the literature on the overall effects of MD on intermediate and final disease phenotypes, we reviewed the findings from 30 selected experimental and observational studies. We analyzed the effect of MD on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, recurrence of cardiovascular events, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels. In general, MD was found to have beneficial effects on final and intermediate disease phenotypes. However, more randomized, controlled interventional studies on the overall effects of MD offering the highest level of scientific evidence are needed before adequate dietary recommendations concerning the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease can be given.