title: Virgin olive oil and nuts as key foods of the Mediterranean diet effects on inflammatory biomakers related to atherosclerosis.
abstract: Previous epidemiological and feeding studies have observed that adherence to Mediterranean diet (Med-Diet) is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Since atherosclerosis is nowadays considered a low-grade inflammatory disease, recent studies have explored the anti-inflammatory effects of a Med-Diet intervention on serum and cellular biomarkers related to atherosclerosis. In two sub-studies of the PREDIMED (PREvencion con DIeta MEDiterranea) trial, we analyzed the effects at 3 months of two Med-Diet interventions supplemented with either virgin olive oil (VOO) or nuts compared with a control low-fat diet (LFD). Both Med-Diets showed an anti-inflammatory effect reducing serum C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL6) and endothelial and monocytary adhesion molecules and chemokines (P<0.05; all), whereas these parameters increased after the LFD intervention (P<0.05; all). In another substudy, we evaluated the long-term (1 year) effects of these interventions on vascular risk factors in 516 high-risk subjects, as well as the effect of different Med-Diet components in the reduction of these biomarkers. At 1 year, the Med-Diet groups had significant decreases in the plasma concentrations of IL6, tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 60 and TNFR80 (P<0.05), while intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), TNFR60 and TNFR80 concentrations increased in the LFD group (P<0.002). In addition, those allocated in the highest tertile of VOO and vegetables consumption had a significant diminution of plasma TNFR60 concentration compared with those in tertile 1 (P<0.02). In conclusion, Med-Diet exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on cardiovascular system since it down-regulates cellular and circulating inflammatory biomarkers related to atherogenesis in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, C/Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urpi-Sarda
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiva-Blanch
authors.forename: Edwin Saúl
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Romero-Mamani
authors.forename: Palmira
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valderas-Martínez
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arranz
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andres-Lacueva
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Llorach
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medina-Remón
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Lamuela-Raventos
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estruch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D009754:Nuts; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils