title: Mediterranean-style diet and risk of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death: the Northern Manhattan Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A dietary pattern common in regions near the Mediterranean appears to reduce risk of all-cause mortality and ischemic heart disease. Data on blacks and Hispanics in the United States are lacking, and to our knowledge only one study has examined a Mediterranean-style diet (MeDi) in relation to stroke.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we examined an MeDi in relation to vascular events.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Northern Manhattan Study is a population-based cohort to determine stroke incidence and risk factors (mean ± SD age of participants: 69 ± 10 y; 64% women; 55% Hispanic, 21% white, and 24% black). Diet was assessed at baseline by using a food-frequency questionnaire in 2568 participants. A higher score on a 0-9 scale represented increased adherence to an MeDi. The relation between the MeDi score and risk of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and vascular death was assessed with Cox models, with control for sociodemographic and vascular risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MeDi-score distribution was as follows: 0-2 (14%), 3 (17%), 4 (22%), 5 (22%), and 6-9 (25%). Over a mean follow-up of 9 y, 518 vascular events accrued (171 ischemic strokes, 133 MIs, and 314 vascular deaths). The MeDi score was inversely associated with risk of the composite outcome of ischemic stroke, MI, or vascular death (P-trend = 0.04) and with vascular death specifically (P-trend = 0.02). Moderate and high MeDi scores were marginally associated with decreased risk of MI. There was no association with ischemic stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher consumption of an MeDi was associated with decreased risk of vascular events. Results support the role of a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil in the promotion of ideal cardiovascular health.
authors.affiliation: Evelyn F McKnight Brain Institute, Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gardener
authors.forename: Clinton B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Yian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Demmer
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boden-Albala
authors.forename: Mitchell S V
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elkind
authors.forename: Ralph L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scarmeas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
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