Mediterranean diet has no effect on markers of inflammation and metabolic risk factors in patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
Mediterranean diet is associated with decreased levels of inflammatory markers and metabolic risk factors in epidemiologic studies and recent trials on patients with metabolic syndrome. Given the recent improvements in medical treatments, it is unclear if such beneficial effects are also present in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We therefore investigated the effect of Mediterranean diet on markers of inflammation and metabolic risk factors in patients with treated CAD.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
A total of 101 patients (59.4+/-8.6 years, 23% female) with established and treated CAD (80% statins).


METHODS
Participants were assigned to a Mediterranean diet group (MG; n=48) with a 1-year program of 100 h of education, or to a written advice-only group (AG; n=53). Before and after intervention, we measured serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, fasting insulin, homocysteine, serum lipids and plasma fatty acids.


RESULTS
The Mediterranean diet program increased the intakes of fish, fruits/vegetables and moderately of canola/olive oil and increased plasma concentrations of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the MG. Median hs-CRP and mean fibrinogen, homocysteine, fasting insulin, triglycerides and serum cholesterols remained unchanged in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Adoption of a Mediterranean diet by patients with medically treated CAD has no effect on markers of inflammation and metabolic risk factors.


BACKGROUND
Alfried Krupp Foundation, Essen, Germany.
Michalsen
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine V, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany. andreas.michalsen@uni-essen.de
Lehmann
N
N
Pithan
C
C
Knoblauch
N T M
NT
Moebus
S
S
Kannenberg
F
F
Binder
L
L
Budde
T
T
Dobos
G J
GJ
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D005227:Fatty Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D006710:Homocysteine; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein