Diet, the protective bridge connecting nutrition and cardiovascular health: A review

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of mortality, responsible for 17.9 million deaths annually.
• CVD pathogenesis involves complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, including smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
• Nutritional research has evolved from single nutrients to holistic dietary patterns and their interactions with other health determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on diet-related factors in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention and management.
• To elucidate the mechanisms through which dietary factors exert cardiovascular protection.
• To inform the design of personalized dietary interventions to reduce the global CVD burden.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of recent research on diet and cardiovascular disease.
• Synthesis of evidence on the roles and mechanisms of specific dietary patterns and components.
• Analysis of the interplay between diet, genetics, environment, and lifestyle in CVD.

Main Results:

• Dietary patterns, rather than individual nutrients, significantly influence CVD risk and outcomes.
• Specific dietary factors demonstrate clear cardiovascular protective mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
• Personalized dietary approaches show promise in CVD management and prevention.

Conclusions:

• Diet plays a critical role in cardiovascular health, influencing CVD risk and progression.
• Understanding the mechanisms of dietary factors enables tailored interventions for CVD prevention.
• Shifting focus to dietary patterns and personalized nutrition is key to mitigating the global CVD burden.