title: Mediterranean diet, endothelial function and vascular inflammatory markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss present knowledge about the relation between adipose tissue, inflammation and the Mediterranean-style diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the literature and personal perspectives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent studies indicate that adipose tissue is an endocrine organ producing numerous proteins, collectively referred to as adipokines, with broad biological activity, which play an important autocrine role in obesity-associated complications. Adipose tissue in general and visceral fat in particular are thought to be key regulators of inflammation which is heavily involved in the onset and development of atherothrombotic disease. Moreover, chronic inflammation may also represent a triggering factor in the origin of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. An increased release of proinflammatory adipokines from the visceral adipose tissue, associated with a reduced secretion of anti-inflammatory adipokines and cytokines, could determine a low-grade chronic inflammatory state which might play a role in the future development of the metabolic syndrome, diabetes and atherosclerosis through both insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Interventions aimed at decreasing weight loss and improving adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet in people with obesity or metabolic syndrome decrease the inflammatory milieu and ameliorate both insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Appropriate dietary patterns, as those associated with the eating model of Mediterranean-type diets, represent therapeutic strategies to reduce inflammation and the associated metabolic and cardiovascular risk.
authors: Division of Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy. katherine.esposito@unina2.it
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Esposito
authors: Miryam
authors: M
authors: Ciotola
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Giugliano
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines