Role of fibre and fruit in the Mediterranean diet to protect against myocardial infarction: a case-control study in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between a first acute myocardial infarction and the consumption of fibre and fruit.


METHODS
Hospital-based case-control study with incident cases. A validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (136 items) was used to assess food intake.


METHODS
Three third-level university hospitals in Pamplona (Spain).


METHODS
Cases were subjects aged under 80, newly diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Each case patient (n=171) was matched to a control subject of the same gender and age (5 y bands) admitted to the same hospital.


RESULTS
An inverse association was apparent for the three upper quintiles of fibre intake. After adjustment for non-dietary and dietary confounders, an inverse linear trend was clearly significant, showing the highest relative reduction of risk (86%) for the fifth quintile (OR=0.14, 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.67). An inverse association was also apparent for fruit intake, but not for vegetables or legumes.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that a substantial part of the postulated benefits of the Mediterranean diet on coronary risk might be attributed to a high intake of fibre and fruit.
Martínez-González
M A
MA
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain. mamartinez@unav.es
Fernández-Jarne
E
E
Martínez-Losa
E
E
Prado-Santamaría
M
M
Brugarolas-Brufau
C
C
Serrano-Martinez
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires