Adherence to the Mediterranean diet attenuates inflammation and coagulation process in healthy adults: The ATTICA Study.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the effect of the Mediterranean diet on plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell counts, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, amyloid A, fibrinogen, and homocysteine.


BACKGROUND
To the best of our knowledge, the mechanism(s) by which the Mediterranean diet reduces cardiovascular risk are not well understood.


METHODS
During the 2001 to 2002 period, we randomly enrolled 1,514 men (18 to 87 years old) and 1,528 women (18 to 89 years old) from the Attica area of Greece (of these, 5% of men and 3% of women were excluded because of a history of cardiovascular disease). Among several factors, adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by a diet score that incorporated the inherent characteristics of this diet. Higher values of the score meant closer adherence to the Mediterranean diet.


RESULTS
Participants who were in the highest tertile of the diet score had, on average, 20% lower CRP levels (p = 0.015), 17% lower IL-6 levels (p = 0.025), 15% lower homocysteine levels (p = 0.031), 14% lower white blood cell counts (p = 0.001), and 6% lower fibrinogen levels (p = 0.025), as compared with those in the lowest tertile. The findings remained significant even after various adjustments were made. Borderline associations were found regarding TNF-alpha (p = 0.076), amyloid A levels (p = 0.19), and diet score.


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduction in the concentrations of inflammation and coagulation markers. This may partly explain the beneficial actions of this diet on the cardiovascular system.
Chrysohoou
Christina
C
First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Panagiotakos
Demosthenes B
DB
Pitsavos
Christos
C
Das
Undurti N
UN
Stefanadis
Christodoulos
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006710:Homocysteine; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein