title: Mediterranean diet and inflammatory response in myocardial infarction survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Within the framework of the multi-centre AIRGENE project we studied the association of the Mediterranean diet on plasma levels of various inflammatory markers, in myocardial infarction (MI) survivors from six geographic areas in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2003 to 2004, 1003 patients were repeatedly clinically examined. On every clinical visit (on average 5.8 times), blood EDTA-plasma samples were collected. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 and fibrinogen concentrations were measured based on standardized procedures. Dietary habits were evaluated through a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), whereas adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by a diet score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A protective effect of adherence to the Mediterranean diet was found. For each unit of increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet score there was a reduction of 3.1% in the average CRP levels (95% CI 0.5-5.7%) and of 1.9% in the average IL-6 levels (95% CI 0.5-3.4%) after adjusting for centre, age, sex, body mass index, physical activity, smoking status, diabetes and medication intake. No significant association was observed between the diet score and fibrinogen levels. Moderate intake of red wine (1-12 wine glasses per month) was associated with lower levels of CRP, IL-6 and fibrinogen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduction of the concentrations of inflammatory markers in MI survivors. This may, in part, explain the beneficial effects of this diet on various chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis and cancer, and expands its role to secondary prevention level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Demosthenes B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dimakopoulou
authors.forename: Klea
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katsouyanni
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bellander
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lanki
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pistelli
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015930:Diet Records; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010349:Patient Compliance; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers