title: Effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular risk factors: a randomized trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Mediterranean diet has been shown to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the short-term effects of 2 Mediterranean diets versus those of a low-fat diet on intermediate markers of cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Substudy of a multicenter, randomized, primary prevention trial of cardiovascular disease (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea [PREDIMED] Study).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary care centers affiliated with 10 teaching hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  772 asymptomatic persons 55 to 80 years of age at high cardiovascular risk who were recruited from October 2003 to March 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assigned to a low-fat diet (n = 257) or to 1 of 2 Mediterranean diets. Those allocated to Mediterranean diets received nutritional education and either free virgin olive oil, 1 liter per week (n = 257), or free nuts, 30 g/d (n = 258). The authors evaluated outcome changes at 3 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose levels, and inflammatory molecules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The completion rate was 99.6%. Compared with the low-fat diet, the 2 Mediterranean diets produced beneficial changes in most outcomes. Compared with the low-fat diet, the mean changes in the Mediterranean diet with olive oil group and the Mediterranean diet with nuts group were -0.39 mmol/L (95% CI, -0.70 to -0.07 mmol/L) and -0.30 mmol/L (CI, -0.58 to -0.01 mmol/L), respectively, for plasma glucose levels; -5.9 mm Hg (CI, -8.7 to -3.1 mm Hg) and -7.1 mm Hg (CI, -10.0 to -4.1 mm Hg), respectively, for systolic blood pressure; and -0.38 (CI, -0.55 to -0.22) and - 0.26 (CI, -0.42 to -0.10), respectively, for the cholesterol-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. The Mediterranean diet with olive oil reduced C-reactive protein levels by 0.54 mg/L (CI, 1.04 to 0.03 mg/L) compared with the low-fat diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This short-term study did not focus on clinical outcomes. Nutritional education about low-fat diet was less intense than education about Mediterranean diets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with a low-fat diet, Mediterranean diets supplemented with olive oil or nuts have beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer, Municipal Institut for Medical Research, University of Barcelona, and Catalan Institute of Health, Barcelona, Spain. restruch@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estruch
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez-González
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corella
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salas-Salvadó
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Covas
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiol
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez-Gracia
authors.forename: Mari Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: López-Sabater
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vinyoles
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arós
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lahoz
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lapetra
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sáez
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ros
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004042:Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol