Tissue factor expression is decreased in monocytes obtained from blood during Mediterranean or high carbohydrate diets.
BACKGROUND
Mediterranean and high carbohydrate diets play a dominant role in the prevention of atherosclerosis as a result of their lipid lowering effect. However, diets can also have a protective effect in other ways, such as modulating tissue factor expression in circulating monocytes.


RESULTS
Forty-one subjects participated in this randomised crossover study consisting of three dietary periods: a saturated fat enriched diet (SFA), a low fat and high carbohydrate diet (CHO), and a Mediterranean diet. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were determined at the end of each dietary period, as was the expression of tissue factor (TF) in circulating monocytes isolated from blood samples. Total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and TF expression were lower after the Mediterranean and high carbohydrate diets than after the SFA diet, and there was a positive correlation between LDL-C levels and monocyte TF expression.


CONCLUSIONS
High carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets reduce the expression of TF in circulating monocytes.
Bravo-Herrera
M D
MD
Unidad de Lípidos y Arteriosclerosis, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Córdoba, Spain.
López-Miranda
J
J
Marín
C
C
Gómez
P
P
Gómez
M J
MJ
Moreno
J A
JA
Pérez-Martínez
P
P
Blanco
A
A
Jiménez-Gómez
Y
Y
Pérez-Jiménez
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D013925:Thromboplastin