Mediterranean Adequacy Index: correlation with 25-year mortality from coronary heart disease in the Seven Countries Study.
OBJECTIVE
The Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI) is an overall indicator characterising a diet in comparison with a Reference Mediterranean Diet. We computed the MAI of random samples of men surveyed for their eating habits in the 16 cohorts of the Seven Countries Study, and found that it inversely correlated with the 25-year death rates from coronary heart disease in the 16 cohorts (R = -0.72; p = 0.001). The correlation coefficient was -0.84 (p < 0.001) when the MAI was converted into natural logarithms.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings once again support the association between typical Mediterranean eating habits and protection against coronary heart disease.
Fidanza
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F
Human Nutrition Section, Department of Neurosciences, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. fidanzaflaminio@libero.it
Alberti
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A
Lanti
M
M
Menotti
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005060:Europe; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged